Mobile terminal performing a different operation based on a type of a tap applied to a display and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

An electronic device including a display; a touch sensor; and a controller configured to activate the display and periodically drive the touch sensor with a first period; in response to a first tap input applied on the touch sensor in state of the activated display, determine a region of the display that corresponds to the first tap input; in response to a second tap input applied on the touch sensor in state of the activated display within a predefined time period from the first tap input, determine if the second tap input is applied within the region; deactivate the display and periodically drive the touch sensor with a second period greater than the first period when the second tap input is applied within the region of the display that corresponds to the first tap input; and maintain the activation of the display and periodically drive the touch sensor with the first period when the second tap input is applied to a spot outside the region of the display that corresponds to the first tap input.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.15/622,958 filed on Jun. 14, 2017, which is a Continuation of co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 14/389,990 filed on Oct. 1, 2014, which is theNational Phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2013/011885filed on Dec. 19, 2013, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Patent Application No. 10-2013-0093363, filed in Republic ofKorea on Aug. 6, 2013, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated byreference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and method forcontrolling functions of the mobile terminal in response to an externalforce applied to the mobile terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, terminals may be divided into a mobile terminal andstationary terminal according to whether or not terminals are movable.In addition, mobile terminals may be divided into a handheld terminaland a vehicle mount terminal according to whether or not users candirectly carry it around.

As such functions become more diversified, the mobile terminal cansupport more complicated functions such as capturing images or video,reproducing music or video files, playing games, receiving broadcastsignals, and the like. By comprehensively and collectively implementingsuch functions, the mobile terminal may be embodied in the form of amultimedia player or device.

Efforts are ongoing to support and increase the functionality of mobileterminals. Such efforts include software and hardware improvements, aswell as changes and improvements in the structural components which formthe mobile terminal.

In addition, demand for a new user interface allowing functions of aterminal to be simply operated by a terminal or the vicinity of aterminal is increasing.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

As aspect of the present invention provides a mobile terminal allowing auser to control the mobile terminal by simply tapping a body thereof orthe vicinity thereof, and a control method thereof.

Technical Solution

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, thepresent invention provides in one aspect a mobile terminal including: adisplay unit; a touch sensor configured to sense a tap applied to thedisplay unit; and a controller configured to control at least one offunctions executable in the mobile terminal when a tap corresponding toa pre-set scheme is applied to the display unit, wherein the touchsensor is formed to sense the tap by using different schemes in anactivated state or deactivated state of the display unit.

In the exemplary embodiment, the different schemes may be related to anactivation period of the touch sensor, and the touch sensor may beactivated at different periods according to whether the display unit isactivated.

In the exemplary embodiment, in a state in which the display unit isdeactivated, the touch sensor may be periodically activated tocorrespond to a pre-set particular period.

In the exemplary embodiment, when the display unit is in an activatedstate, the touch sensor may be continuously activated.

In the exemplary embodiment, when an applied touch is sensed by thetouch sensor, power consumed by the touch sensor to sense the touch mayvary according to whether the display unit is activated.

In the exemplary embodiment, the mobile terminal may further include aproximity sensor configured to sense an object positioned within areference distance from the deactivated display unit, wherein whether toactivate the touch sensor is determined according to whether the objectis sensed by the proximity sensor.

In the exemplary embodiment, when the object is sensed by the proximitysensor, the touch sensor is deactivated, and when the object is notsensed, the touch sensor is periodically activated.

In the exemplary embodiment, in a state in which the display unit isdeactivated, when taps successively applied to the display unit aresensed by the touch sensor, the at least one function may be controlled.

In the exemplary embodiment, the successively applied taps may include afirst tap and a second tap applied within a pre-set period of time afterthe first tap is applied.

In the exemplary embodiment, when the second tap corresponds to pre-setinvalidity conditions, although a tap corresponding to the pre-setscheme is sensed during a pre-set period of time after the second tap issensed, the controller may limit controlling of the at least onefunction.

In the exemplary embodiment, when a tap corresponding to the pre-setconditions is applied in a state in which the display unit is in adeactivated state, information related to information displayed in aposition to which the tap was applied in initial screen informationdisplayed on the display unit may be displayed on the display unit whenthe display unit is switched from the deactivated state to an activatedstate.

In the exemplary embodiment, the initial screen information maycorrespond to a locked screen, and when the tap is applied to a firstregion of a display region of the display unit, time information may bedisplayed, and when the tap is applied to a second region different fromthe first region in the display region, a home screen page may beoutput.

In the exemplary embodiment, when the display unit is deactivated, thecontroller may control the at least one function in response to a tapapplied to a pre-set particular region of the display unit.

In the exemplary embodiment, the touch sensor may be disposed tocorrespond to the display region of the display unit, and when thedisplay unit is in a deactivated state, at least one region of the touchsensor may be deactivated.

Advantageous Effects

In the mobile terminal according to exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, functions of the mobile terminal may be controlled inresponse to tapping applied to an object. Thus, a user may use a userinterface of simply controlling functions of a mobile terminal althoughhe or she does not operate the mobile terminal through a plurality oftimes of tapping applied to the mobile terminal.

Also, in the mobile terminal according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, different functions may be controlled or differentsetting information may be changed according to a position to whichtapping is applied. Thus, by applying tapping to various positions, theuser may control various functions by simply tapping the mobileterminal.

Also, in the mobile terminal according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, since tapping is sensed by using an accelerometer,tapping applied to a spot outside the terminal body, as well as tappingapplied to the terminal body, may be sensed. Thus, when the terminal isaway or when the user wears gloves so he or she cannot apply a touch,the user may control various functions through tapping.

Also, in the mobile terminal according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure, since the touch sensor is periodically activated ina state in which the display unit is deactivated, tapping applied to thedisplay unit may be accurately sensed by using the touch sensor. Also,since the touch sensor is periodically activated, efficiency of powerusage may be increased.

Also, although other sensing units are deactivated, an accelerometer ofthe mobile terminal according to exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure is continuously activated (always-on) to sense tappingapplied to the mobile terminal until when a battery is discharged. Inthe mobile terminal according to exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, when a first tap is sensed, various sensors such as thetouch sensor, or the like, may be activated. Thus, in the mobileterminal, a second tap may be sensed by using various sensors togetherwith the accelerometer, malfunction may be prevented and powerconsumption may be minimized.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are conceptual views of communication systems in whichthe mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present inventionis operable.

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the mobile terminal related tothe present invention.

FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal illustrated inFIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a control method of a mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart specifically illustrating a method of using anaccelerometer in the control method illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a method of sensing tapping by theaccelerometer according to the control method illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7A through 7E are conceptual views illustrating the control methodof FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8A through 8C are conceptual views illustrating method ofexecuting different functions according to tap objects in a mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9A through 11 are conceptual views illustrating a method ofexecuting different functions according to spots to which tapping isapplied in a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are conceptual views illustrating a method ofexecuting different functions according to patterns of tapping in amobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 13 through 15D are conceptual views illustrating a method ofcontrolling functions according to a touch input applied after tappingin the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a conceptual view illustrating a method of controlling amobile terminal in response to tapping applied to the mobile terminal ina particular situation according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a conceptual view illustrating a method of connecting aplurality of mobile terminals as they sense the same tapping accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual view illustrating an operation example ofdeactivating a display unit in response to tapping in a mobile terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart specifically illustrating a method of using atouch sensor in the control method illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating current consumption of the touch sensorin a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 21 is a view illustrating a mode in which the display unit and thetouch sensor operate in a mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating a method of controlling the touchsensor using a proximity sensor in the method illustrated in FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating a method of preventing malfunctionin a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are conceptual views illustrating an operation exampleof deactivating a particular region of the touch sensor in a state inwhich the display unit is deactivated in the mobile terminal accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

BEST MODES

Description will now be given in detail of the exemplary embodiments,with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of briefdescription with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalentcomponents will be provided with the same reference numbers, anddescription thereof will not be repeated. The suffixes attached tocomponents of the wireless speaker, such as ‘module’ and ‘unit orportion’ were used for facilitation of the detailed description of thepresent disclosure. Therefore, the suffixes do not have differentmeanings from each other.

The mobile terminal according to the present disclosure may include aportable phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, adigital broadcasting terminal, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA),Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a navigation system, a slate PC, atablet PC, an ultrabook, etc. The present disclosure discloses a mobileterminal, but it would be easily understood by those skilled in the artthat the configuration according to the embodiment disclosed herein maybe applicable to a stationary terminal, such as a digital TV, a desktopcomputer, and the like, excluding a case where it is applicable to onlythe mobile terminal.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal 100 according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

The mobile terminal 100 may comprise components, such as a wirelesscommunication unit 110, an Audio/Video (A/V) input unit 120, a userinput unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, aninterface unit 170, a controller 180, a power supply unit 190, and thelike. FIG. 1 shows the mobile terminal 100 having various components,but it is understood that implementing all of the illustrated componentsis not a requirement. Greater or fewer components may alternatively beimplemented.

Hereinafter, each component is described in sequence.

The wireless communication unit 110 may typically include one or morecomponents which permit wireless communications between the mobileterminal 100 and a wireless communication system or between the mobileterminal 100 and a network within which the mobile terminal 100 islocated. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include abroadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, awireless internet module 113, a short-range communication module 114, aposition information module 115 and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals and/orbroadcast associated information from an external broadcast managementserver (or other network entity) via a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and/or aterrestrial channel. The broadcast management server may be a serverthat generates and transmits a broadcast signal and/or broadcastassociated information or a server that receives a previously generatedbroadcast signal and/or broadcast associated information and transmitsthe same to a terminal. The broadcast associated information may referto information associated with a broadcast channel, a broadcast programor a broadcast service provider. The broadcast signal may include a TVbroadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, a data broadcast signal, andthe like. Also, the broadcast signal may further include a broadcastsignal combined with a TV or radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast associated information may also be provided via a mobilecommunication network and, in this case, the broadcast associatedinformation may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast signal may exist in various forms. For example, it mayexist in the form of an electronic program guide (EPG) of digitalmultimedia broadcasting (DMB), electronic service guide (ESG) of digitalvideo broadcast-handheld (DVB-H), and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to receive signalsbroadcast by using various types of broadcast systems. In particular,the broadcast receiving module 111 may receive a digital broadcast byusing a digital broadcast system such as multimediabroadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T), digital multimediabroadcasting-satellite (DMB-S), digital video broadcast-handheld(DVB-H), the data broadcasting system known as media forward link only(MediaFLO®), integrated services digital broadcast-terrestrial (ISDB-T),etc. The broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to be suitablefor every broadcast system that provides a broadcast signal as well asthe above-mentioned digital broadcast systems.

Broadcasting signals and/or broadcasting associated information receivedthrough the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits/receives wireless signalsto/from at least one of network entities (e.g., base station, anexternal terminal, a server, etc.) on a mobile communication network.Here, the wireless signals may include audio call signal, video callsignal, or various formats of data according to transmission/receptionof text/multimedia messages.

The wireless internet module 113 supports wireless Internet access forthe mobile terminal. This module may be internally or externally coupledto the mobile terminal 100. Examples of such wireless Internet accessmay include Wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi), Wireless Broadband (Wibro),World Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), High Speed DownlinkPacket Access (HSDPA), and the like.

The short-range communication module 114 denotes a module forshort-range communications. Suitable technologies for implementing thismodule may include BLUETOOTH, Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID),Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-WideBand (UWB), ZigBee, and thelike.

The position information module 115 denotes a module for sensing orcalculating a position of a mobile terminal. An example of the positioninformation module 115 may include a Global Position System (GPS)module.

Referring to FIG. 1, the A/V input unit 120 is configured to receive anaudio or video signal. The A/V input unit 120 may include a camera 121,a microphone 122 or the like. The camera 121 processes image data ofstill pictures or video acquired by an image capture device in a videocapturing mode or an image capturing mode. The processed image framesmay be displayed on a display unit 151.

The image frames processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory160 or transmitted via the wireless communication unit 110. The camera121 may be provided in two or more according to the configuration of themobile terminal.

The microphone 122 may receive sounds (audible data) via a microphone ina phone call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, and thelike, and can process such sounds into audio data. The processed audio(voice) data may be converted for output into a format transmittable toa mobile communication base station via the mobile communication module112 in case of the phone call mode. The microphone 122 may implementvarious types of noise canceling (or suppression) algorithms to cancel(or suppress) noise or interference generated in the course of receivingand transmitting audio signals.

The user input unit 130 may generate key input data from commandsentered by a user to control various operations of the mobilecommunication terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a keypad, adome switch, a touch pad (e.g., a touch sensitive member that detectschanges in resistance, pressure, capacitance, etc. due to beingcontacted) a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 detects a current status (or state) of the mobileterminal 100 such as an opened or closed state of the mobile terminal100, a location of the mobile terminal 100, the presence or absence ofuser contact with the mobile terminal 100, the orientation of the mobileterminal 100, an acceleration or deceleration movement and direction ofthe mobile terminal 100, etc., and generates commands or signals forcontrolling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, whenthe mobile terminal 100 is implemented as a slide type mobile phone, thesensing unit 140 may sense whether the slide phone is open or closed. Inaddition, the sensing unit 140 can detect whether or not the powersupply unit 190 supplies power or whether or not the interface unit 170is coupled with an external device. The sensing unit 140 may include aproximity sensor 141.

The output unit 150 is configured to provide outputs in a visual,audible, and/or tactile manner. The output unit 150 may include thedisplay unit 151, an audio output module 153, an alarm unit 154, ahaptic module 155, and the like.

The display unit 151 may display information processed in the mobileterminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in a phonecall mode, the display unit 151 may display a User Interface (UI) or aGraphic User Interface (GUI) associated with a call or othercommunication (such as text messaging, multimedia file downloading,etc.). When the mobile terminal 100 is in a video call mode or imagecapturing mode, the display unit 151 may display a captured image and/orreceived image, a UI or GUI that shows videos or images and functionsrelated thereto, and the like.

The display unit 151 may include at least one of a Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD), a Thin Film Transistor-LCD (TFT-LCD), an Organic LightEmitting Diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, a three-dimensional(3D) display, or the like.

Some of these displays may be configured to be transparent so thatoutside may be seen therethrough, which may be referred to as atransparent display. A representative example of the transparent displaymay include a Transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (TOLED), and thelike. The rear surface portion of the display unit 151 may also beimplemented to be optically transparent. Under this configuration, auser can view an object positioned at a rear side of a terminal bodythrough a region occupied by the display unit 151 of the terminal body.

The display unit 151 may be implemented in two or more in numberaccording to a configured aspect of the mobile terminal 100. Forinstance, a plurality of displays may be arranged on one surfaceintegrally or separately, or may be arranged on different surfaces.

Furthermore, the display unit 151 may be configured with a stereoscopicdisplay unit 152 for displaying a stereoscopic image.

Here, stereoscopic image indicates a 3-dimensional stereoscopic image,and the 3-dimensional stereoscopic image is an image for allowing theuser to feel the gradual depth and reality of an object located on themonitor or screen as in a real space. The 3-dimensional stereoscopicimage may be implemented by using binocular disparity. Here, binoculardisparity denotes a disparity made by the location of two eyes separatedfrom each other, allowing the user to feel the depth and reality of astereoscopic image when two eyes see different two-dimensional imagesand then the images are transferred through the retina and merged in thebrain as a single image.

A stereoscopic method (glasses method), an auto-stereoscopic method(no-glasses method), a projection method (holographic method), and thelike may be applicable to the stereoscopic display unit 152. Thestereoscopic method primarily used in a home television receiver and thelike may include a Wheatstone stereoscopic method and the like.

The examples of the auto-stereoscopic method may include a parallelbarrier method, a lenticular method, an integral imaging method, and thelike. The projection method may include a reflective holographic method,a transmissive holographic method, and the like.

In general, a 3-dimensional stereoscopic image may include a left image(image for the left eye) and a right image (image for the right eye).The method of implementing a 3-dimensional stereoscopic image can bedivided into a top-down method in which a left image and a right imageare disposed at the top and bottom within a frame, a left-to-right(L-to-R) or side by side method in which a left image and a right imageare disposed at the left and right within a frame, a checker boardmethod in which the pieces of a left image and a right image aredisposed in a tile format, an interlaced method in which a left and aright image are alternately disposed for each column and row unit, and atime sequential or frame by frame method in which a left image and aright image are alternately displayed for each time frame, according tothe method of combining a left image and a right image into a3-dimensional stereoscopic image.

For 3-dimensional thumbnail images, a left image thumbnail and a rightimage thumbnail may be generated from the left and the right image ofthe original image frame, and then combined with each other to generatea 3-dimensional stereoscopic image. Typically, thumbnail denotes areduced image or reduced still video. The left and right thumbnail imagegenerated in this manner are displayed with a left and right distancedifference on the screen in a depth corresponding to the disparity ofthe left and right image, thereby implementing a stereoscopic spacefeeling.

A left image and a right image required to implement a 3-dimensionalstereoscopic image are displayed on the stereoscopic display unit 152 bya stereoscopic processing unit (not shown). The stereoscopic processingunit receives a 3D image to extract a left image and a right image fromthe 3D image, or receives a 2D image to convert it into a left image anda right image.

On the other hand, when the display unit 151 and a touch sensitivesensor (hereinafter, referred to as a “touch sensor”) have an interlayerstructure (hereinafter, referred to as a “touch screen”), the displayunit 151 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.The touch sensor may be implemented as a touch film, a touch sheet, atouch pad, and the like.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert changes of a pressureapplied to a specific part of the display unit 151, or a capacitanceoccurring from a specific part of the display unit 151, into electricinput signals. The touch sensor may be configured to sense not only atouched position and a touched area, but also a touch pressure at whicha touch object body is touched on the touch sensor. Here, the touchobject body may be a finger, a touch pen or stylus pen, a pointer, orthe like as an object by which a touch is applied to the touch sensor.

When there is a touch input to the touch sensor, the correspondingsignals are transmitted to a touch controller. The touch controllerprocesses the signal(s), and then transmits the corresponding data tothe controller 180. Accordingly, the controller 180 may sense whichregion of the display unit 151 has been touched.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 may be arranged at an innerregion of the mobile device 100 surrounded by the touch screen, oradjacent to the touch screen. The proximity sensor 141 may be providedas an example of the sensing unit 140. The proximity sensor 141 refersto a sensor to sense the presence or absence of an object approaching toa surface to be sensed, or an object disposed adjacent to a surface tobe sensed, by using an electromagnetic field or infrared rays without amechanical contact. The proximity sensor 141 has a longer lifespan and amore enhanced utility than a contact sensor.

The proximity sensor 141 may include an optical transmission typephotoelectric sensor, a direct reflective type photoelectric sensor, amirror reflective type photoelectric sensor, a high-frequencyoscillation proximity sensor, a capacitance type proximity sensor, amagnetic type proximity sensor, an infrared rays proximity sensor, andso on. When the touch screen is implemented as a capacitance type, theproximity of an object having conductivity (hereinafter, referred to asa “pointer”) to the touch screen is sensed by changes of anelectromagnetic field. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) maybe categorized into a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of brief explanation, abehavior that the pointer is positioned to be proximate onto the touchscreen without contact will be referred to as a “proximity touch”,whereas a behavior that the pointer substantially comes in contact withthe touch screen will be referred to as a “contact touch”. For theposition corresponding to the proximity touch of the pointer on thetouch screen, such position corresponds to a position where the pointerfaces perpendicular to the touch screen upon the proximity touch of thepointer.

The proximity sensor 141 senses a proximity touch, and a proximity touchpattern (e.g., proximity touch distance, proximity touch direction,proximity touch speed, proximity touch time, proximity touch position,proximity touch moving status, etc.). Information relating to the sensedproximity touch and the sensed proximity touch patterns may be outputonto the touch screen.

When the stereoscopic display unit 152 and a touch sensor are configuredwith an interlayer structure (hereinafter, referred to as a“stereoscopic touch screen”) or the stereoscopic display unit 152 and a3D sensor for detecting a touch operation are combined with each other,the stereoscopic display unit 152 may be used as a 3-dimensional inputdevice.

As an example of the 3D sensor, the sensing unit 140 may include aproximity sensor 141, a stereoscopic touch sensing unit 142, aultrasound sensing unit 143, and a camera sensing unit 144.

The proximity sensor 141 measures a distance between the sensing object(for example, the user's finger or stylus pen) and a detection surfaceto which a touch is applied using an electromagnetic field or infraredrays without a mechanical contact. The terminal may recognize whichportion of a stereoscopic image has been touched by using the measureddistance. In particular, when the touch screen is implemented with acapacitance type, it may be configured such that the proximity level ofa sensing object is sensed by changes of an electromagnetic fieldaccording to the proximity of the sensing object to recognize a3-dimensional touch using the proximity level.

The stereoscopic touch sensing unit 142 may be configured to sense thestrength or duration time of a touch applied to the touch screen. Forexample, stereoscopic touch sensing unit 142 senses a user applied touchpressure, and if the applied pressure is strong, then the stereoscopictouch sensing unit 142 recognizes it as a touch for an object locatedfarther from the touch screen.

The ultrasound sensing unit 143 may be configured to sense the locationof the sensing object using ultrasound.

For example, the ultrasound sensing unit 143 may be configured with anoptical sensor and a plurality of ultrasound sensors. The optical sensormay be formed to sense light, and the ultrasound sensor may be formed tosense ultrasound waves. Since light is far faster than ultrasound waves,the time for light to reach the optical sensor is far faster than thetime for ultrasound waves to reach the ultrasound sensor. Accordingly,the location of the wave generating source may be calculated using atime difference between the light and ultrasound waves to reach theoptical sensor.

The camera sensing unit 144 may include at least one of a camera 121, aphoto sensor, and a laser sensor.

For example, the camera 121 and laser sensor may be combined to eachother to sense a touch of the sensing object to a 3-dimensionalstereoscopic image. Distance information sensed by the laser sensor isadded to a two-dimensional image captured by the camera to acquire3-dimensional information.

For another example, a photo sensor may be deposited on the displayelement. The photo sensor may be configured to scan the motion of thesensing object in proximity to the touch screen. More specifically, thephoto sensor is integrated with photo diodes and transistors in the rowsand columns thereof, and a content placed on the photo sensor may bescanned by using an electrical signal that is changed according to theamount of light applied to the photo diode. In other words, the photosensor performs the coordinate calculation of the sensing objectaccording to the changed amount of light, and the location coordinate ofthe sensing object may be detected through this.

An accelerometer 145 may sense a movement of the terminal body. Forexample, the accelerometer may sense a movement of the terminal body ina space based on an x axis, a y axis, and a z axis. Also, theaccelerometer 145 may measure a movement speed, an angular speed, andthe like, as well as dynamic force such as acceleration of the terminalbody, vibration of the terminal body, an impact applied to the terminalbody, and the like.

The audio output module 153 may output audio data received from thewireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160, in acall-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voicerecognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and so on. The audiooutput module 153 may output audio signals relating to the functionsperformed in the mobile terminal 100 (e.g., sound alarming a callreceived or a message received, and so on). The audio output module 153may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and so on.

The alarm unit 154 outputs signals notifying occurrence of events fromthe mobile terminal 100. The events occurring from the mobile terminal100 may include call received, message received, key signal input, touchinput, and so on. The alarm unit 154 may output not only video or audiosignals, but also other types of signals such as signals notifyingoccurrence of events in a vibration manner. Since the video or audiosignals can be output through the display unit 151 or the audio outputunit 153, the display unit 151 and the audio output module 153 may becategorized into part of the alarm unit 154.

The haptic module 155 generates various tactile effects which a user canfeel. A representative example of the tactile effects generated by thehaptic module 155 includes vibration. Vibration generated by the hapticmodule 155 may have a controllable intensity, a controllable pattern,and so on. For instance, different vibration may be output in asynthesized manner or in a sequential manner.

The haptic module 155 may generate various tactile effects, includingnot only vibration, but also arrangement of pins vertically moving withrespect to a skin being touched, air injection force or air suctionforce through an injection hole or a suction hole, touch by a skinsurface, presence or absence of contact with an electrode, effects bystimulus such as an electrostatic force, reproduction of cold or hotfeeling using a heat absorbing device or a heat emitting device, and thelike.

The haptic module 155 may be configured to transmit tactile effectsthrough a user's direct contact, or a user's muscular sense using afinger or a hand. The haptic module 155 may be implemented in two ormore in number according to the configuration of the mobile terminal100.

The memory 160 may store a program for processing and controlling thecontroller 180. Alternatively, the memory 160 may temporarily storeinput/output data (e.g., phonebook, messages, still images, videos, andthe like). Also, the memory 160 may store data related to variouspatterns of vibrations and sounds outputted upon the touch input on thetouch screen.

The memory 160 may be implemented using any type of suitable storagemedium including a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimediacard micro type, a memory card type (e.g., SD or DX memory), RandomAccess Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-OnlyMemory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory(EEPROM), Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM), magnetic memory,magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. Also, the mobile terminal 100may operate in association with a web storage which performs the storagefunction of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 may generally be implemented to interface themobile terminal with external devices connected to the mobile terminal100. The interface unit 170 may allow a data reception from an externaldevice, a power delivery to each component in the mobile terminal 100,or a data transmission from the mobile terminal 100 to an externaldevice. The interface unit 170 may include, for example, wired/wirelessheadset ports, external charger ports, wired/wireless data ports, memorycard ports, ports for coupling devices having an identification module,audio Input/Output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, earphone ports, and thelike.

On the other hand, the identification module may be configured as a chipfor storing various information required to authenticate an authority touse the mobile terminal 100, which may include a User Identity Module(UIM), a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), and the like. Also, thedevice having the identification module (hereinafter, referred to as“identification device”) may be implemented in a type of smart card.Hence, the identification device can be coupled to the mobile terminal100 via a port.

Furthermore, the interface unit 170 may serve as a path for power to besupplied from an external cradle to the mobile terminal 100 when themobile terminal 100 is connected to the external cradle or as a path fortransferring various command signals inputted from the cradle by a userto the mobile terminal 100. Such various command signals or powerinputted from the cradle may operate as signals for recognizing that themobile terminal 100 has accurately been mounted to the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operations of themobile terminal 100. For example, the controller 180 performs thecontrol and processing associated with telephony calls, datacommunications, video calls, and the like. The controller 180 mayinclude a multimedia module 181 which provides multimedia playback. Themultimedia module 181 may be configured as part of the controller 180 oras a separate component.

Furthermore, the controller 180 can perform a pattern recognitionprocessing so as to recognize writing or drawing input carried out onthe touch screen as text or image.

Furthermore, the controller 180 may implement a lock state for limitingthe user's control command input to applications when the state of themobile terminal satisfies a preset condition. Furthermore, thecontroller 180 may control a lock screen displayed in the lock statebased on a touch input sensed through the display unit 151 in the lockstate.

The power supply unit 190 receives external and internal power toprovide power required for various components under the control of thecontroller 180.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a as computeror similar device readable medium using software, hardware, or anycombination thereof.

For hardware implementation, it may be implemented by using at least oneof application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors,and electrical units designed to perform the functions described herein.In some cases, such embodiments may be implemented in the controller 180itself.

For software implementation, the embodiments such as procedures orfunctions described in the present disclosure may be implemented withseparate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform atleast one function or operation described in the present disclosure.

Software codes can be implemented by a software application written inany suitable programming language. The software codes may be stored inthe memory 160 and executed by the controller 180.

Next, a communication system that can be implemented through the mobileterminal 100 according to the present disclosure will be described.FIGS. 2A and 2B are conceptual views illustrating a communication systemin which a mobile terminal 100 according to the present disclosure isoperable.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are conceptual views of a communication system where themobile terminal 100 according to the present invention can operate.

First, referring to FIG. 2A, the communication system may use differentwireless interfaces and/or physical layers. For example, wirelessinterfaces that can be used by the communication system may include,frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access(TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), universal mobiletelecommunications system (UMTS) (particularly, long term evolution(LTE)), global system for mobile communications (GSM), and the like.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the descriptiondisclosed herein will be limited to CDMA. However, it is apparent thatthe present invention may be also applicable to all communicationsystems including a CDMA wireless communication system.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, a CDMA wireless communication system mayinclude a plurality of terminals 100, a plurality of base stations (BSs)270, a plurality of base station controllers (BSCs) 275, and a mobileswitching center (MSC) 280. The MSC 280 may interface with a PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN) 290, and the MSC 280 may alsointerface with the BSCs 275. The BSCs 275 may be connected to the BSs270 via backhaul lines. The backhaul lines may be configured inaccordance with at least any one of E1/T1, ATM, IP, PPP, Frame Relay,HDSL, ADSL, or xDSL, for example. Further, the system illustrated inFIG. 2A may include a plurality of BSCs 275.

Each of the plurality of BSs 270 may include at least one sector, eachsector having an omni-directional antenna or an antenna indicating aparticular radial direction from the base station 270. Alternatively,each sector may include two or more antennas with various forms. Each ofthe BSs 270 may be configured to support a plurality of frequencyassignments, each frequency assignment having a particular spectrum (forexample, 1.25 MHz, 5 MHz, etc.).

The intersection of a sector and frequency assignment may be referred toas a CDMA channel. The BSs 270 may also be referred to as Base StationTransceiver Subsystems (BTSs). In this case, the term “base station” maycollectively refer to a BSC 275, and at least one BS 270. The basestations may also indicate “cell sites”. Alternatively, individualsectors for a specific BS 270 may also be referred to as a plurality ofcell sites.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the Broadcasting Transmitter (BT) 295 maytransmit broadcasting signals to the mobile terminals 100 being operatedwithin the system. The broadcast receiving module 111 as illustrated inFIG. 1 may be provided in the mobile terminal 100 to receive broadcastsignals transmitted by the BT 295.

In addition, FIG. 2A illustrates several global positioning system (GPS)satellites 300. Such satellites 300 facilitate locating at least one ofa plurality of mobile terminals 100. Though two satellites areillustrated in FIG. 2A, location information may be obtained with agreater or fewer number of satellites. The location information module115 as illustrated in FIG. 1 may cooperate with the satellites 300 asillustrated in FIG. 2A to obtain desired location information. However,other types of position detection technology, all types of technologiescapable of tracing the location may be used in addition to a GPSlocation technology. Furthermore, at least one of the GPS satellites 300may alternatively or additionally provide satellite DMB transmissions.

During the operation of a wireless communication system, the BS 270 mayreceive reverse-link signals from various mobile terminals 100. At thistime, the mobile terminals 100 may perform calls, message transmissionsand receptions, and other communication operations. Each reverse-linksignal received by a specific base station 270 may be processed withinthat specific base station 270. The processed resultant data may betransmitted to an associated BSC 275. The BSC 275 may provide callresource allocation and mobility management functions including thesystemization of soft handoffs between the base stations 270.Furthermore, the BSCs 275 may also transmit the received data to the MSC280, which provides additional transmission services for interfacingwith the PSTN 290. Furthermore, similarly, the PSTN 290 may interfacewith the MSC 280, and the MSC 280 may interface with the BSCs 275. TheBSCs 275 may also control the BSs 270 to transmit forward-link signalsto the mobile terminals 100.

Next, a method of acquiring the location information of a mobileterminal using a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) positioning system (WPS) willbe described with reference to FIG. 2B.

The WiFi positioning system (WPS) 300 refers to a location determinationtechnology based on a wireless local area network (WLAN) using WiFi as atechnology for tracking the location of the mobile terminal 100 using aWiFi module provided in the mobile terminal 100 and a wireless accesspoint 320 for transmitting and receiving to and from the WiFi module.

The WiFi positioning system 300 may include a WiFi locationdetermination server 310, a mobile terminal 100, a wireless access point(AP) 320 connected to the mobile terminal 100, and a database 330 storedwith any wireless AP information.

The WiFi location determination server 310 extracts the information ofthe wireless AP 320 connected to the mobile terminal 100 based on alocation information request message (or signal) of the mobile terminal100. The information of the wireless AP 320 may be transmitted to theWiFi location determination server 310 through the mobile terminal 100or transmitted to the WiFi location determination server 310 from thewireless AP 320.

The information of the wireless AP extracted based on the locationinformation request message of the mobile terminal 100 may be at leastone of MAC address, SSID, RSSI, channel information, privacy, networktype, signal strength and noise strength.

The WiFi location determination server 310 receives the information ofthe wireless AP 320 connected to the mobile terminal 100 as describedabove, and compares the received wireless AP 320 information withinformation contained in the pre-established database 330 to extract (oranalyze) the location information of the mobile terminal 100.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 2B, as an example, the wireless APconnected to the mobile terminal 100 is illustrated as a first, asecond, and a third wireless AP 320. However, the number of wireless APsconnected to the mobile terminal 100 may be changed in various waysaccording to a wireless communication environment in which the mobileterminal 100 is located. When the mobile terminal 100 is connected to atleast one of wireless APs, the WiFi positioning system 300 can track thelocation of the mobile terminal 100.

Next, considering the database 330 stored with any wireless APinformation in more detail, various information of any wireless APsdisposed at different locations may be stored in the database 330.

The information of any wireless APs stored in the database 330 may beinformation such as MAC address, SSID, RSSI, channel information,privacy, network type, latitude and longitude coordinate, building atwhich the wireless AP is located, floor number, detailed indoor locationinformation (GPS coordinate available), AP owner's address, phonenumber, and the like.

In this manner, any wireless AP information and location informationcorresponding to the any wireless AP are stored together in the database330, and thus the WiFi location determination server 310 may retrievewireless AP information corresponding to the information of the wirelessAP 320 connected to the mobile terminal 100 from the database 330 toextract the location information matched to the searched wireless AP,thereby extracting the location information of the mobile terminal 100.

Furthermore, the extracted location information of the mobile terminal100 may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 100 through the WiFilocation determination server 310, thereby acquiring the locationinformation of the mobile terminal 100.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure as illustrated in FIG. 1 or a mobile terminal disposed withthe constituent elements of the mobile terminal or the structure of amobile terminal will be described.

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view illustrating an example of themobile terminal 100 associated with the present disclosure.

The mobile terminal 100 disclosed herein is provided with a bar-typeterminal body. However, the present invention may not be limited tothis, but also may be applicable to various structures such as watchtype, clip type, glasses type or folder type, flip type, swing type,swivel type, or the like, in which two and more bodies are combined witheach other in a relatively movable manner.

The body includes a case (casing, housing, cover, etc.) forming theappearance of the terminal. In this embodiment, the case may be dividedinto a front case 101 and a rear case 102. Various electronic componentsare incorporated into a space formed between the front case 101 and therear case 102. At least one middle case may be additionally disposedbetween the front case 101 and the rear case 102, and a battery cover103 for covering the battery 191 may be detachably configured at therear case 102.

The cases may be formed by injection-molding a synthetic resin or may bealso formed of a metal, for example, stainless steel (STS), titanium(Ti), or the like.

A display unit 151, a first audio output module 153 a, a first camera121 a, a first manipulating unit 131 and the like may be disposed on afront surface of the terminal body, and a microphone 122, an interfaceunit 170, a second manipulating unit 132 and the like may be provided ona lateral surface thereof.

The display unit 151 may be configured to display (output) informationbeing processed in the mobile terminal 100. The display unit 151 mayinclude at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin filmtransistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organic light emittingdiode (OLED) display, a flexible display, a 3-dimensional (3D) display,and an e-ink display.

The display unit 151 may include a touch sensing means to receive acontrol command by a touch method. When a touch is made to any one placeon the display unit 151, the touch sensing means may be configured tosense this touch and enter the content corresponding to the touchedplace. The content entered by a touch method may be a text or numericalvalue, or a menu item capable of indication or designation in variousmodes.

The touch sensing means may be formed with transparency to allow visualinformation displayed on the display unit 151 to be seen, and mayinclude a structure for enhancing the visibility of a touch screen atbright places. Referring to FIG. 3A, the display unit 151 occupies amost portion of the front surface of the front case 101.

The first audio output unit 153 a and the first camera 121 a aredisposed in a region adjacent to one of both ends of the display unit151, and the first manipulation input unit 131 and the microphone 122are disposed in a region adjacent to the other end thereof. The secondmanipulation interface 132 (refer to FIG. B), the interface 170, and thelike may be disposed on a lateral surface of the terminal body.

The first audio output module 153 a may be implemented in the form of areceiver for transferring voice sounds to the user's ear or a loudspeaker for outputting various alarm sounds or multimedia reproductionsounds.

It may be configured such that the sounds generated from the first audiooutput module 153 a are released along an assembly gap between thestructural bodies. In this case, a hole independently formed to outputaudio sounds may not be seen or hidden in terms of appearance, therebyfurther simplifying the appearance of the mobile terminal 100. However,the present invention may not be limited to this, but a hole forreleasing the sounds may be formed on the window.

The first camera 121 a processes video frames such as still or movingimages obtained by the image sensor in a video call mode or capturemode. The processed video frames may be displayed on the display unit151.

The user input unit 130 is manipulated to receive a command forcontrolling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. The user inputunit 130 may include a first and a second manipulation unit 131, 132.The first and the second manipulation unit 131, 132 may be commonlyreferred to as a manipulating portion, and any method may be employed ifit is a tactile manner allowing the user to perform manipulation with atactile feeling such as touch, push, scroll or the like.

In the present drawing, it is illustrated on the basis that the firstmanipulation unit 131 is a touch key, but the present disclosure may notbe necessarily limited to this. For example, the first manipulation unit131 may be configured with a mechanical key, or a combination of a touchkey and a mechanical key.

The content received by the first and/or second manipulation units 131,132 may be set in various ways. For example, the first manipulation unit131 may be used to receive a command such as menu, home key, cancel,search, or the like, and the second manipulation unit 132 may receive acommand, such as controlling a volume level being outputted from thefirst audio output module 153 a, or switching into a touch recognitionmode of the display unit 151.

The microphone 122 may be formed to receive the user's voice, othersounds, or the like. The microphone 122 may be provided at a pluralityof places, and configured to receive stereo sounds.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path allowing the mobile terminal 100to exchange data with external devices. For example, the interface unit170 may be at least one of a connection terminal for connecting to anearphone in a wired or wireless manner, a port for near fieldcommunication (for example, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) port, aBluetooth port, a wireless LAN port, and the like), and a power supplyterminal for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100. The interfaceunit 170 may be implemented in the form of a socket for accommodating anexternal card such as Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) or UserIdentity Module (UIM), and a memory card for information storage.

FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view illustrating mobile terminal 100illustrated in FIG. 3A.

Referring to FIG. 3B, a second camera 121 b may be additionally mountedat a rear surface of the terminal body, namely, the rear case 102. Thesecond camera 121 b has an image capturing direction, which issubstantially opposite to the direction of the first camera unit 121 a(refer to FIG. 3A), and may have a different number of pixels from thatof the first camera unit 121 a.

For example, it is preferable that the first camera 121 a has arelatively small number of pixels enough not to cause difficulty whenthe user captures his or her own face and sends it to the other partyduring a video call or the like, and the second camera 121 b has arelatively large number of pixels since the user often captures ageneral object that is not sent immediately. The first and the secondcamera 121 a, 121 b may be provided in the terminal body in a rotatableand popupable manner.

Furthermore, a flash 123 and a mirror 124 may be additionally disposedadjacent to the second camera 121 b. The flash 123 illuminates lighttoward an object when capturing the object with the second camera 121 b.The mirror 124 allows the user to look at his or her own face, or thelike, in a reflected way when capturing himself or herself (in aself-portrait mode) by using the second camera 121 b.

A second audio output unit 153 b may be additionally disposed at a rearsurface of the terminal body. The second audio output unit 153 btogether with the first audio output unit 153 a (refer to FIG. 3A) canimplement a stereo function, and may be also used to implement a speakerphone mode during a phone call.

An antenna (not shown) for receiving broadcast signals may beadditionally disposed at a lateral surface of the terminal body inaddition to an antenna for making a phone call or the like. The antennaconstituting part of the broadcast receiving module 111 (refer toFIG. 1) may be provided in the terminal body in a retractable manner.

A power supply unit 190 (refer to FIG. 1) for supplying power to themobile terminal 100 may be mounted on the terminal body. The powersupply unit 190 may be incorporated into the terminal body, or mayinclude a battery 191 configured in a detachable manner on the outsideof the terminal body. According to the drawing, it is illustrated thatthe battery cover 103 is combined with the rear case 102 to cover thebattery 191, thereby restricting the battery 191 from being released andprotecting the battery 191 from external shocks and foreign substances.

Also, functions of the mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure including at least one or more ofthe components as discussed above may be controlled in response to a tap(or a tap gesture) applied to the terminal body of the mobile terminalor applied to a spot outside the terminal body. Namely, in the mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,in response to the tap, a function or application being executed in themobile terminal may be controlled. Also, in the exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, a function, which may be executable in themobile terminal although not currently being executed in the mobileterminal, may be executed. Thus, the user may control at least one offunctions executable in the mobile terminal by a simple gesture oftapping an object.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal capable of providing a new user interfacebased on a tap applied to an object and a control method thereof will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a control method of a mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure senses a tap applied to an objectin step S410.

Here, tap or tap gesture may denote a gesture hitting the body 100 ofthe mobile terminal or an object. More specifically, tap may beunderstood as an operation of slightly hitting the mobile terminal body100 or object with a tap object such as a finger and the like or anoperation of allowing a tap object to be slightly brought into contactwith the mobile terminal body 100 or object.

On the other hand, the tap object applying such a tap may be a thingcapable of applying an external force to the mobile terminal body 100 orobject, for example, finger (part with a fingerprint), stylus pen, pen,pointer, first (finger joint) and the like. On the other hand, the tapobject may not be necessarily limited to a thing capable of applying atouch input to a mobile terminal according to the present disclosure,and the type thereof does not matter if it is a thing capable ofapplying an external force to the mobile terminal body 100 or object.

Meanwhile, an object to which a tap is applied may include at least oneof the terminal body and a position out of the body. In other words, theinput region of the mobile terminal may be extended to an outside of theterminal body. Accordingly, the position capable of sensing the tap at aposition out of the terminal body becomes a virtual input region.

Furthermore, the virtual input region may vary in the area according toa location or object on which the terminal is placed or the strength ofa tap. For example, when the terminal is placed on a table, the movementof the terminal may be generated if the user hits the table, therebysensing the tap therethrough. As a result, the virtual input region isincreased as increasing the strength of the hitting. For anotherexample, when the user holds the terminal body, the virtual input regionmay disappear.

On the other hand, during the process of sensing a tap, it may bedetermined that “knockknock (or knock-on)” for the purpose ofcontrolling the mobile terminal is sensed only when at least two or moretaps are applied within a limited period of time. For example, when atap is applied once to the display unit 151 by a touch subject capableof applying a touch to the display unit 151, the controller 180 mayrecognize the one tap as a touch input. Namely, in this case, thecontroller may control a function (for example, a function of selectingan icon output to a spot to which the touch input was applied) accordingto a touch input corresponding to the one tap.

Accordingly, the sensing unit 140 may generate a control signal forcontrolling one or more functions only when at least two or more (orplurality of) taps are consecutively applied within a limited period oftime.

In other words, consecutively sensing at least two or more taps within alimited period of time may be referred to as “knockknock (or knock-on)”.For example, when a second tap is sensed within a limited period of timefrom a time point at which a first tap is sensed, it may be determinedthat “knockknock” is sensed. Accordingly, hereinafter, sensing“knockknock” may denote that hitting an object on the terminal body orat a position out of the body is substantially sensed a plural number oftimes.

Meanwhile, regarding “knockknock”, after a first tap tapping theterminal body or a spot outside the terminal body by a first referencenumber of times or more is sensed, a second tap tapping the terminalbody or a spot outside the terminal body by a second reference number oftimes or more is sensed.

In this case, in response to the sensed first tap, the sensing unit mayswitch to a ready state (or an activated state), and when a second tapis applied, the sensing unit 140 may generate a control signal forcontrolling the terminal. Namely, the user may first apply the first tapto deliver information indicating that the mobile terminal will becontrolled, to the mobile terminal.

Here, the first reference number of times and the second referencenumber of times may be equal or different. For example, the firstreference number of times may be three times and the second referencenumber of times may be two times. In another example, the firstreference number of times and the second reference number of times maybe two or more times.

In addition, the first and second taps of “knockknock” may be input invarious patterns. For example, an operation of lightly tapping an objectmay correspond to a dot of Morse code, and an operation of not releasinga contact during a predetermined period of time in an object-contactedstate may correspond to a dash (line) of the Morse code. For example“knockknock”, “knock-knock”, “knockknock-” may be a case in which twotaps are applied but may be tap gestures generated in differentpatterns.

However, for the purposes of description, in the following description,the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described by using an example in which first andsecond reference number of times are one time and have the same pattern.

In addition, besides the case in which the first and second taps aresensed within the limited period of time, the sensing unit 145 maydetermine that “knockknock” is sensed when the first and second taps areapplied within a predetermined region. For example, “knockknock” mayrefer to a plurality of times of tapping successively sensed within apredetermined region within the limited period of time.

Meanwhile, here, the limited period of time may be a very short time.For example, the limited period of time may be a time within 300 ms to 2s. The predetermined region may be a spot to which the first and secondtaps were applied or a narrow region that may be considered as the samespot.

To this end, when the first tap applied to the mobile terminal body oran object is sensed by the sensing unit 140, the sensing unit 140 maycalculate a predetermined region from the spot in which the first tapwas sensed. After the first tap, when a second tap applied to thepredetermined region is sensed within a limited period of time after thefirst tap was sensed, the sensing unit 140 may determined that“knockknock” has been sensed.

Meanwhile, the foregoing reference limited period of time and thepredetermined region may be variously modified according to anembodiment.

In this manner, when “knockknock” applied to the terminal body or anobject positioned at a spot outside the mobile terminal is sensed, thesensing unit 140 generates a control signal. The generated controlsignal is delivered to the controller 180.

Thereafter, when a plurality of times of taps (“knockknock”) are sensedwithin the limited period of time, at least one of the functionsexecutable in the terminal is controlled in step S420. Namely, thecontroller 180 may control at least one of functions executable in theterminal in response to the control signal.

Here, the functions executable in the terminal may refer to any type offunction that may be executed or driven in the mobile terminal. Forexample, one of executable functions may be an application installed inthe mobile terminal. For example, executing of a ‘certain function’ mayrefer to executing or driving a certain application.

In another example, the function executable in the mobile terminal maybe a function of receiving an event. Here, the received event mayinclude a message reception event, a call reception event, or the like.Meanwhile, the event may be an event occurring in an applicationinstalled in the mobile terminal.

In another example, the function executable in the mobile terminal maybe a function required for basic driving of the mobile terminal. Forexample, a function required for basic driving may be a function ofturning on or off lighting provided in the display unit 151, a functionof switching the mobile terminal from an unlocked state to a lockedstate or from a locked state to an unlocked state, a function ofestablishing a communication network, a function of changingconfiguration information of the mobile terminal, and the like.

In this manner, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the controller 180 may control at least one of functionsexecutable in the mobile terminal in response to a control signal.

Meanwhile, the control signal may vary depending on characteristics of“knockknock”. Here, the characteristics of “knockknock” may be relatedto at least one of the number of times of applying taps, a position towhich a tap is applied, a speed of a tap, strength of a tap, a patternor a tap, and a region of a tap. For example, in a case in which tapsare applied twice, the sensing unit 140 may generate a first controlsignal, and when taps are applied three times, the sensing unit 140 maygenerate a second signal. Also, the controller 810 may control functionscorresponding to the first and second control signals.

Meanwhile, in response to a control signal, the controller 180 maychange configuration information related to a currently driven functionor a function corresponding to screen information output to the displayunit 151 among currently driven functions. In this case, the controller180 may output guide information regarding controllable configurationinformation to the display unit 151 according to a position to which“knockknock” is applied.

Meanwhile, here, “a function controlled in response to the controlsignal generated by “knockknock” may vary according to a current stateof the mobile terminal or characteristics of “knockknock”.

First, a state of the mobile terminal will be described in detail. When“knockknock” is sensed, the controller 180 may perform differentcontrolling according to a state of the mobile terminal, namely,according to a function currently driven in the mobile terminal, a typeof screen information displayed on the display unit 151, an applicationcorresponding to screen information output to the display unit 151, anON/OFF state of lighting of the display unit, a locked/unlocked state ofthe mobile terminal, and the like.

In detail, although the same “knockknock” is sensed, in a state in whichlighting of the display unit 15 is in an ‘OFF’ state, the controller 180may execute a ‘voice recognition function’, and in a state in whichlighting of the display unit 151 is in an ON state, the controller 180may perform controlling on an application related to the currentlyoutput screen information, or when the currently output screeninformation is a locked screen, the controller 180 may release thelocked state and output a home screen page to the display unit 151.

Also, a function executable in response to a tap applied to the terminalbody or a spot (or an object on which the terminal body is placed)outside of the terminal body may be changing configuration of a functionbeing currently driven in the mobile terminal, changing a configurationof an application related to screen information output to the mobileterminal, or changing a configuration of a function corresponding toscreen information output to the mobile terminal.

The characteristics of “knockknock” will be described. The sensing unit140 may generate different control signals based on a position to whicha tap is applied, a component (a microphone, a speaker, or the like)disposed in a position to which a tap is applied, strength of a tap, aspeed of a tap, an area of a tap, a pattern of a tap, and the like.Namely, the controller 180 may control different functions according tothe characteristics of “knockknock”. Alternatively, the control signalmay include information regarding the characteristics of “knockknock”and the controller 180 may control different functions by using theinformation included in the control signal.

Hereinafter, a method for sensing “knockknock” will be described indetail, and a method of controlling the mobile terminal according to thecontrol method described above with reference to FIG. 4 will bedescribed in detail along with the accompanying drawings.

First, a method of sensing “knockknock” will be described. FIG. 5 is aflow chart specifically illustrating a method of using an accelerometerin the control method illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a viewillustrating a method of sensing tapping by the accelerometer accordingto the control method illustrated in FIG. 5.

In the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of presentdisclosure, the accelerometer 145 (please refer to FIG. 1) may sense amovement of the terminal body based on at least one of an x axis, a yaxis, and a z axis. Also, the accelerometer 145 may generate anacceleration signal corresponding to the movement of the terminal body.For example, referring to FIG. 6, an acceleration signal of the x axisaccording to a movement of the terminal body is illustrated as anembodiment.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the accelerometer 145 senses a first tapexceeding a threshold reference in step S510. The threshold reference isprovided to prevent malfunction of the accelerometer 145, and is used todetermine whether a tap for generating a control signal has been sensed.

In this case, the accelerometer 145 may compare a difference valuebetween nth generated acceleration signal and (n−1)th generatedacceleration signal with the threshold reference to determine whether amovement of the terminal body has been generated by the first tap. Whenthe difference between the acceleration signals is greater than thethreshold reference, the accelerometer 145 may determine that the firsttap has been applied.

Thereafter, it is determined whether a movement of the terminal bodycorresponding to the first tap dies off within a first reference periodof time TI1 in step S520. For example, when the mobile terminal fallsfrom the sky to the ground, a movement exceeding the threshold referencemay be continuously sensed. In this case, it cannot be considered thatthe first tap has been sensed, so the movement corresponding to thefirst tap does not die off within the first reference period of timeTI1, the process is returned to a previous step.

Thereafter, calculation of the movement of the terminal body during aperiod of time set as a no-operation period (NOP) is limited in stepS530. For example, in a case in which tapping is applied to an object, amovement exceeding the threshold reference is sensed at the point intime when the tapping is applied, and thereafter, aftershock of thetapping may remain so the terminal body may be moved. In order toprevent malfunction of the mobile terminal due to the aftershock, theaccelerometer 145 may disregard an acceleration signal generated duringthe period of time set as the NOP.

Next, it is determined whether the movement of the terminal body ismaintained within a pre-set range during a period of time TI2 set as asilent period in step S540.

For example, in a case in which the user waves with the terminal bodyheld in his or her hand up and down, a movement exceeding the thresholdreference may be continuously sensed. In a case in which a movementexceeding the threshold reference is continuously sensed even after theperiod of time set as the NOP has lapsed, it may be considered that atap has been sensed. Thus, after aftershock by the first tap dies off, amovement of the mobile terminal should not be sensed during thepredetermined period of time TI2.

Namely, after the period of time set as the NOP has lapsed, if amovement of the terminal body is not maintained within a pre-set rangeduring the period of time TI2 set as the silent period, the process isreturned to the first step. In this case, the pre-set range may refer toa range within which the mobile terminal is not moved.

Thereafter, whether a second tap exceeding a threshold reference issensed within the limited period of time is determined in step S550.Namely, when a duration from a point in time at which a first tap issensed to a point in time at which a second tap is sensed is within thelimited period of time, it may be considered that “knockknock” has beensensed. If the second tap is not sensed within the limited period oftime, the process is returned to the first step.

When “knockknock” is sensed, a control signal is generated in step S560.The control signal may vary according to peaks of the first and secondtaps corresponding to the characteristics of “knockknock”, a durationfrom a point in time at which the first tap is sensed to a point in timeat which the second tap is sensed, and target spots to which the firstand second taps were applied, or may include information regarding thecharacteristics of “knockknock”. The controller 180 may control at leastone of functions controllable in the terminal by using the controlsignal.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 6, in the mobile terminal according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the accelerometer 145may be continuously in an activated state (always-on) while power isbeing supplied to the controller. Namely, even when a sleep mode inwhich components excluding an essential component for minimizing batteryconsumption are deactivated is executed, unless the battery is dead, theaccelerometer 145 may constantly sense a movement of the terminal bodyand, as “knockknock” is sensed, the accelerometer 145 may generate acontrol signal.

Alternately, sensors other than the accelerometer 145 may be deactivatedin the sleep mode. In the deactivated state, when a first tap is sensedby the accelerometer 145, the other sensors are activated to sense thesecond tap. The other sensors may include a touch sensor, a microphonesensor, a proximity sensor, an RGB sensor, a pressure sensor, and thelike, and may be used to distinguish the characteristics (strength of atap, a target spot, a time interval between first and second taps, asubject of a tap, and the like) of “knockknock”.

For example, the touch sensor may be disposed in the terminal body tosense the second tap by using a touch applied to the terminal body.Also, the touch sensor may calculate a position to which the second tapis applied, and a second tap object (for example, a finger, a fingernail, a palm, and the like) may be distinguished by using the area withwhich the second tap is touched.

In another example, the microphone sensor may sense the second tap byusing a sound generated in the vicinity of the terminal body. Also, asound has unique frequency characteristics, and thus, the second tapobject (for example, a finger, a finger nail, a palm, a pen, and thelike) and patterns of the first and second taps may be distinguished byusing frequency characteristics of received sound information.

In another example, the proximity sensor may sense the second tap byusing the presence and absence of an object positioned in the vicinityof the terminal body. When the proximity sensor detects an objectadjacent to a front side of the terminal body, the controller 180 mayreject a control signal generated by the accelerometer. This is becausethe mobile terminal 100 may malfunction due to waving of a bag.

In another example, the RGB sensor may sense a color with respect to asubject of the second tap. The RGB sensor may discern a type of thesubject by using the sensed color.

In another example, the pressure sensor may sense a second tap by usingpressure applied to the terminal body and may calculate strength ofpressure generated by the second tap.

In another example, a piezo sensor (or an impact sensor) usingproperties that electricity is generated from a surface of a crystalwhen pressure is applied in a particular direction may sense the secondtap. Compared with an accelerometer that senses a movement correspondingto hundreds of hz, the piezo sensor may sense a movement correspondingto a few khz, so it may more accurately sense a movement (or impact) ofthe mobile terminal.

In addition, a tap object and pattern may be recognized by using thepiezo sensor. Since different physical patterns are generated accordingto a tap object applying impact to the terminal, a tap object and apattern of a tap may be recognized by using physical patterns obtainedexperimentally. The experimentally obtained physical pattern may becreated in a process of releasing in a factory and stored in the memory160, and may be periodically updated or changed by a user.

Meanwhile, when a second tap is not sensed within the limited period oftime, sensors, other than the accelerometer, are deactivated in order toprevent battery consumption.

Here, in a case in which both the accelerometer and the other remainingsensors sense the second tap, controlling may be performed by“knockknock”. Since various sensors are used, malfunction of the mobileterminal may be prevented, and since the other remaining sensors,excluding the accelerometer, are activated only during the limitedperiod of time after the first tap is sensed, power may be effectivelyused.

Meanwhile, a tap is applied by a tap object, a signal exceeding thethreshold reference only in one of the three axes of the accelerometeris generated. Meanwhile, when the mobile terminal falls to a floor or isplaced on an object, a movement similar to “knockknock” may be sensed.In this case, since signals exceeding the threshold reference aregenerated from in at least two axes, when a movement exceeding thethreshold reference in another axis is sensed in a state in which amovement exceeding the threshold reference in one axis is sensed, theaccelerometer may reject the corresponding movement.

Besides, various other methods for preventing malfunction due to“knockknock” may be applied to the mobile terminal.

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure may have a micro-controller unit (MCU) forcontrolling sensors. The MCU may serve as a hub of sensors, collectsignals from sensors, and determine whether “knockknock” has beengenerated. Namely, the MCU may generate a control signal by synthesizingsignals from the sensors.

The MCU, not an application processor (AP) as a main processor of themobile terminal, may collect signals from the sensors and generate acontrol signal. Namely, even when the AP is driven in a low power modeaccording to execution of a sleep mode, the MCU may maintain anactivated state (always-on) state while power is being supplied. When“knockknock” is sensed, the MCU activates the AP by using the controlsignal, so current consumption is significantly reduced.

Also, the MCU may activate other sensors to sense a second tap, inresponse to a first tap sensed by the accelerometer. Since the sensorsare controlled by the MCU and the MCU determines whether “knockknock”has been generated by using a plurality of sensors, a generation ofmalfunction may be prevented in advance.

Besides, the MCU may have an algorithm, or the like, for recognizing thecharacteristics of “knockknock” and determine characteristics of“knockknock” by collectively using signals from the sensor.

Hereinafter, a method for controlling a mobile terminal according to thecontrol method described above with reference to FIG. 4 will bedescribed. FIGS. 7A through 7E are conceptual views illustrating thecontrol method of FIG. 4. The mobile terminal controlling a function inresponse to “knockknock” in a state in which the display unit 151 is ina deactivated state (or in an OFF state) is illustrated.

In the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, even when the display unit 151 is in a deactivatedstate (or in an OFF state), tapping applied to the body of the mobileterminal or tapping applied to a spot outside of the terminal body maybe sensed. In the case in which the body of the mobile terminal or aspot outside of the terminal body is tapped in the state in which thedisplay unit 151 is deactivated, the controller 180 may switch thedisplay unit 151 into an activated state. Namely, in response to sensingof “knockknock (T)”, the controller 180 may turn on lighting of thedisplay unit 151. In this case, if the mobile terminal is in a lockedstate, a lock screen may be displayed on the display unit 151.

Also, as the display unit 151 is activated, various types of informationmay be output. The controller 180 may output different informationaccording to a position of the display unit 151 to which tapping isapplied. For example, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7A, when“knockknock” T is applied to a region of the locked screen (the regionmay differ according to mobile terminals) in which time information isdisplayed, the controller 180 may turn of lighting of the display unit151, and as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 7A, the controller 810 may outputscreen information 701 specified for the time information. The screeninformation may include various types of time information, such ascurrent time information, world time information, and the like. Also, ina state in which the screen information 401 is output, the mobileterminal may be in a locked state. Thus, in this case, the user mayswitch the locked state into an unlocked state by applying a touch, orthe like, to the display unit 151.

Although not shown, when knockknock T is applied to a regioncorresponding to a position where a home button is disposed, thecontroller 180 may immediately switch the locked state into an unlockedstate and output a home screen page. Meanwhile, when the mobile terminalis switched to the unlocked state, a first output screen may not a homescreen page. For example, when the mobile terminal is switched to theunlocked state, a screen first output to the display unit 151 may bescreen information which has been lately output to the display unit 151before the locked state was executed.

Meanwhile, regardless of a function being executed in the mobileterminal, when the home button is pressed (or selected), the home screenpage may be output to the display unit 151. Namely, when the home buttonis pressed or touched, the controller 180 may output the home screenpage to the output unit 151. Meanwhile, although the home button ispressed, if the mobile terminal is in a locked state, the home screenpage may not be output. Also, such a home button may be implemented as ahardware key or a virtual key.

Meanwhile, without being limited to the embodiment in which the positionwhere the home button is disposed is tapped, when “knockknock” T isapplied to a region in which a key having a different function (forexample, a volume key, a power key, or the like) is disposed, thecontroller 180 may control a function corresponding to the key havingthe corresponding function.

Also, in the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7B, while a certainfunction (for example, a memo function application) is being executed,in a case in which a control command is not applied to the mobileterminal during a predetermined period of time, as illustrated in (b) ofFIG. 7B, lighting of the display unit 151 may be turned off (this casemay be expressed as “Time out”, which means that lighting of the displayunit 151 is turned off’). In this case, as illustrated in (c) of FIG.7B, when “knockknock” T is applied, the controller 180 may output screeninformation which has been output before the lighting is turned off.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7B, when a certain function hasbeen activated, for example, a character input function in the memofunction application has been activated, in a case in which the screeninformation has been output again through “knockknock” T, as illustratedin (c) of FIG. 7B, the controller 180 may activate the certain function(for example, the character input function) in the same manner.

In another example, in a case in which a particular function is executedin a state in which lighting of the display unit 151 is turned off (thismay be a locked state), the controller 180 may control the particularfunction in response to the “knockknock” T sensed in the state in whichthe lighting of the display unit 151 is turned off.

In this manner, in the mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, different controlling may beperformed according to “knockknock” T applied to different positions.Also, the different positions may be positions that may be generally orconceptually recognized by the user, and accordingly, the controller 810may provide more familiar user experience (UX) to the user.

Also, when a first tap is sensed, the controller 180 may output guideinformation regarding a function to be controlled as a second tap isapplied. Also, such guide information may be information guiding aposition to which the second tap is to be applied or informationregarding a function to be controlled according to the second tap. Also,such guide information may be output through at least one of visual,audible, and tactile method.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may control only the music play function,while continuously deactivating lighting of the display unit 151. In thecase in which a particular function is being executed in a state inwhich the display unit is deactivated, the controller 180 may controlthe particular function, while maintaining the deactivated state of thedisplay unit in response to a sensed tap. Thus, power consumed toactivate lighting of the display unit 15 may be reduced.

Meanwhile, in the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7C, when“knockknock” T is applied in the state in which the display unit 151 isin the deactivated state, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 7C, thecontroller 180 may activate a voice recognition function. In response toa voice command input from the user, the controller 180 may activate,execute, or perform a function related to the corresponding voicecommand.

For example, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 7C, when a voice command (forexample, “Open, Sesame!”) for releasing the locked state is recognized,as illustrated in (c) of FIG. 7C, the controller 180 may switch thelocked into an unlocked state and turn on lighting of the display unit151.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may output notification informationindicating that the voice recognition function has been activated, byusing at least one of visual, tactile, and audible method. Meanwhile,when visual notification information is output, the controller 180 mayactivate only a portion of the display unit 151 and output thenotification information.

Meanwhile, in a case in which characteristics of “knockknock” Tcorrespond to pre-set conditions, the controller 180 may perform afunction previously matched to the applied “knockknock” T. For example,when “knockknock” having first characteristics is sensed, the controller180 may perform a first function matched thereto, and when “knockknock”having second characteristics different from the first characteristicsis sensed, the controller 180 may perform a second function matchedthereto. Also, the first and second functions may be performed only whena state of the mobile terminal meets the particular conditions. Forexample, in a case in which the first function is set to be performedonly when a tap having the first characteristics is sensed in the lockedstate, although “knockknock” having the first characteristics is sensedin an unlocked state, the controller 180 may not perform the firstfunction.

For example, “knockknock” T having the first characteristics may be“knockknock” T with respect to a predetermined area or greater, and asillustrated in FIG. 7D, when “knockknock” T having the predeterminedarea or greater is sensed on the display unit 151, the controller 180may perform the function matched to the first characteristics. Here, thefunction matched to the first characteristics may be a function ofoutputting context information by voice. Thus, in response to the“knockknock” T sensed in the predetermined area or greater, thecontroller 180 may output situation information (for example, eventreception information, current time information, weather information,state information (battery, communication state, position, and the like)of the mobile terminal). Meanwhile, although “knockknock” T applied tothe predetermined area or greater is sensed, if a state of the mobileterminal does not meet pre-set conditions (for example, a condition inwhich lighting of the mobile terminal is in an OFF state or the mobileterminal is in a locked state), the function matched to the firstcharacteristics may not be performed.

Also, in another example, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7E, when“knockknock” T (for example, “knockknock” sequentially applied todifferent regions) having the second characteristics different from thefirst characteristics is sensed, the controller 180 may perform thefunction matched to the second characteristics. For example, when“knockknock” T having the second characteristics is “knockknock” Tsequentially applied to different regions, the controller 180 may outputa virtual keyboard or a visual keyboard for receiving information.Meanwhile, “knockknock” T sequentially applied to different regions maybe an operation of inputting information by the user through a keyboard,and when “knockknock” T corresponding to such an operation is sensed,the controller may output a keyboard to provide more familiar UX (userexperience) to the user.

As described above, the user of the mobile terminal according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may control the mobileterminal by simply tapping the mobile terminal in a state in which thedisplay unit is deactivated. Namely, the mobile terminal according tothe exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide moreintuitive and relatively simple user interface environment to the user.

Besides, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, when “knockknock” is applied to the body of themobile terminal or a spot outside of the terminal body in a state inwhich the display unit 151 is activated, screen information output tothe display unit 151 or an application corresponding to the screeninformation may be controlled. For example, the controller 180 maychange setting of the application corresponding to the screeninformation or change configuration information regarding informationoutput through the application. Also, the controller 180 may performdifferent controlling according to a position to which “knockknock” isapplied.

Hereinafter a method of executing different functions according tocharacteristics of “knockknock” in the mobile terminal according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described indetail.

FIGS. 8A through 8C are conceptual views illustrating method ofexecuting different functions according to tap objects in a mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.Types of the tap object may be distinguished by at least one sensor asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 6. In the mobile terminalaccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 180 may immediately perform a function previously matched toa corresponding attribute according to types of the subject.

For example, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 8A, when “knockknock” T isapplied to the terminal body by a knuckle, as illustrated in (b) of FIG.8A, the controller 180 may output at least one of music and video. Here,the output music or video may be previously set or may be automaticallyselected by the controller 180.

Also, the controller 180 may differently control types of output musicand video according to strength of “knockknock” T. for example, in acase in which strength of “knockknock” T is very strong, the controller180 may output soft music.

In another example, when “knockknock” T is applied to the terminal bodyby a finger (the side with a fingerprint), the controller 180 mayexecute an application related to a social networking service (SNS) suchas Facebook, and output a screen according to the execution to thedisplay unit 151. The executed application may be changed according tosetting by the user.

Also, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 8B, when “knockknock” T is appliedto the terminal body 100 (or the display unit 151) by a tap objectunavailable for touch recognition, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 8B, thelocked state may be immediately released, or as illustrated in (c) ofFIG. 8B, the voice recognition function may be executed. Here, the tapobject unavailable for touch recognition may be a user's hand wearing aglove.

Also, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 8C, when “knockknock” T is appliedto the terminal body 100 (or the display unit 151) by a touch pen (or astylus pen), as illustrated in FIG. (b) of FIG. 8C, the controller 180may immediately activate a memo function (or a memo application).

FIGS. 9A through 11 are conceptual views illustrating a method ofexecuting different functions according to spots to which a tap isapplied in a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

In the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, different functions may be controlled according to aspot to which a tap is applied (or a position to which “knockknock” isapplied).

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, in a case in which “knockknock”T is applied to an upper end of the terminal body 100 of the mobileterminal, an operation manager screen may be output to the display unit151. The operation manager screen may include information regarding atleast one application being executed, information regarding a generatedevent, and short icons.

Also, when “knockknock” T is applied again to the upper end of theterminal body 100, the operation manager screen may be terminated. Also,after the operation manager screen is output, in a case in which a userinput is not input for a pre-set period of time, the display unit 151may be automatically deactivated. In another example, as illustrated inFIG. 9B, when “knockknock” T is applied to the side of the terminal body100 while the screen according to execution of a Web browser is output,a bookmark screen with respect to the Web browser may be output.

In another example, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, in a case in which“knockknock” T is applied to the rear case 102 (please refer to FIG. 1),the controller 180 may output an executed screen of a previouslyexecuted application to the display unit 151. Namely, a screenconversion function may be executed by “knockknock” T applied to therear case 102 (please refer to FIG. 1).

Also, in the case in which “knockknock” T is applied to the rear case102 (please refer to FIG. 1), the controller 180 may terminate at leastone of a plurality of applications being driven, and output anotherexecuted screen to the display unit 151. Also, whenever “knockknock” Tis applied, the plurality of applications being driven may besequentially terminated.

Although not shown, in a case in which “knockknock” T is applied to therear case 102 and an object adjacent to the front side of the terminalbody is sensed by the proximity sensor, the controller 180 may execute afunction related to ‘voice’. In such a case, the display unit 151 maynot be currently available to be used, and thus, the function related to‘voice’ may be executed to enhance user convenience.

The controller 180 may output current situation information (forexample, event reception information, current time information, weatherinformation, state information (battery, communication state, position,and the like) of the mobile terminal through voice. Also, when theoutputting of the situation information is completed, the controller 180may continuously execute the voice recognition function.

A spot to which a tap is applied may be formed in an area outside of theterminal body. Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, “knockknock” T may beapplied to an object on which the terminal body is placed, and themobile terminal 100 may sense “knockknock” T applied to the spot outsideof the terminal body.

In this case, different functions may be executed according to whichposition based on the terminal body “knockknock” T is applied. Forexample, in a state in which an application related to a photo or a bookis executed and an image is output to the display unit 151, when“knockknock” T is applied to the right of the terminal body, a nextimage instead of the current image may be output, and when “knockknock”T is applied to the left of the terminal body, a previous image, insteadof the current image, may be output.

In another example, in a state in which an application related to musicis executed and music is being played, when “knockknock” T is applied tothe right of the terminal body, next music instead of the music beingplayed may be output, and when “knockknock” T is applied to the left ofthe terminal body, previous music instead of the music being played maybe played.

In this manner, in the mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, different controlling may beperformed according to “knockknock” T applied to different positions.Also, the different positions may be positions that may be generally orconceptually recognized by the user, and accordingly, the controller 810may provide more familiar user experience (UX) to the user.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 11, in a case in which “knockknock” T isapplied to a neighboring object, rather than the body 10 of the mobileterminal, the controller 180 may output notification information.Namely, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, in a case in which the user does not know wherethe terminal is placed, when “knockknock” T is applied to a neighboringobject, notification information may be output. The notificationinformation may be output through at least one of a visual, tactile (forexample, vibration), and audible method.

In this case, only when a tap applied to the neighboring object issensed by a predetermined distance or greater or within thepredetermined period based on the terminal body, the controller 180 mayoutput the notification information.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are conceptual views illustrating a method ofexecuting different functions according to patterns of tapping in amobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure may distinguish a pattern of “knockknock” by using thesensing unit 140 and other sensors included in the sensing unit 140. Forexample, in a case in which “knockknock” is applied in a“knock-knockknockknock” pattern, the accelerometer 145 may generate afirst control signal, and when “knockknock” is applied in a“knockknock-knock” pattern, the accelerometer 145 may generate a secondcontrol signal. Also, the controller 180 may control functionscorresponding to the first and second control signals.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, when “knockknock” is applied in a statein which the display unit 151 is deactivated, different functions may beexecuted according to the “knockknock” pattern. For example, when apattern of “knock-knockknockknock” is sensed, an application related tostock may be executed, and a pattern of “knockknockknock” is sensed, anapplication related to weather may be executed.

Meanwhile, in the pattern of “knockknock”, “-” may refer to an operationof not releasing a contact during a predetermined period of time in astate in which a tap is in contact with an object, like a dash of theMorse code. Alternatively, it may also refer to a state in which a tapis not applied during a predetermined period of time between taps. Forexample, in case of “knockknock”, an interval between taps may be lessthan one second, and in case of “knock-knock”, an interval between tapsmay be one second or more.

FIGS. 13 through 15D are conceptual views illustrating a method ofcontrolling functions according to a touch input applied after tappingin the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

In the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, in a state in which a sleep mode is executed, atouch sensor is deactivated but the accelerometer may sense “knockknock”in an activated state.

However, in a case in which a first tap is sensed by the accelerometer,the touch sensor may be activated and a second tap may be sensed. In thecase in which the second tap is sensed by the accelerometer and thetouch sensor, the controller 180 may execute a function corresponding toa touch input sensed by the touch sensor.

For example, as illustrated in (a) and (b) of FIG. 13, when “knockknock”T is sensed, the controller 180 may display a trace corresponding to atouch operation of the user using a pen P, or the like. Namely, inresponse to “knockknock” T, the controller 180 may execute anapplication related to memo, and execute a memo function displaying atouch trace of the user in response to a touch input applied thereafter.Meanwhile, as illustrated in (c) of FIG. 13, in a state in which thedisplay unit 151 is deactivated, the memo function may be executedaccording to “knockknock” T and a touch input.

Although not shown, when “knockknock” is newly applied by palm in astate in which the memo function is executed, the existing memo isstored and a new memo page may be generated. Namely, by using the memofunction through a relatively simple operation, quick memo may beexecuted to quickly write contents desired to be recorded.

Meanwhile, the second tap may be deformed into a touch inputcontinuously moving from a spot from which the second tap is sensed to acertain spot. This may be referred to as a “knockknock and drag”.

For example, the user may apply “knockknock” as first and second taps tothe touch screen by using his or her finger. In this case, the secondtap, in a state of being in contact with the touch screen without beingseparated therefrom, may be continuously moved from the spot to whichthe second tap is applied to a certain spot. The second tap may bereleased from a certain spot.

The controller 180 may execute an application previously matched to asymbol formed a touch trace. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 14Aand 14B, in a case in which a symbol formed by knockknock and drag is“C”, the controller 180 may execute a calendar application previouslymatched to “C”. Accordingly, the user may immediately execute a desiredapplication by drawing a particular symbol through the knockknock andtouch trace on the touch screen, without having to search an icon of theapplication desired to be executed.

Besides, in a case of a drag input continuously moving from the spotfrom which the second tap is detected the second tap according to“knockknock” to a certain spot, different functions may be executedaccording to directions of the drag input.

For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B, in a case in which amusic play function is executed in a state in which lighting of thedisplay unit 151 is turned off, the controller 180 may control the musicplay function in response to “knockknock and drag” applied to thedisplay unit 151. For example, in response to “knockknock and drag”, thecontroller may adjust a volume of music being played or change playedmusic to different music. In addition, the controller 180 may variouslycontrol the music play function according to a position (the dragdirection by the second tap) of a spot from which the second tap, whichhas been moved from a spot to which the second tap was applied, isreleased.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 15A, in a case in which “knockknock”T is applied to a certain region of the display unit 151 and a secondtap applied to a spot is moved in a rightward direction and released,the controller 180 may change currently played music to next music. Asillustrated in FIG. 14B, when the second tap applied to a spot is movedin a leftward direction and released, the controller 180 may play theprevious music of the current music again.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 15C, when “knockknock” T is appliedto a certain region of the display unit 151 and the second tap appliedto a spot is continuously moved toward the upper end of the terminalbody and released, the controller 180 may turn up a volume (or soundvolume). Also, as illustrated in FIG. 15D, when the second tap appliedto a spot is continuously moved toward a lower end of the terminal bodyand released, the controller 180 may turn down the volume.

Meanwhile, although not shown, the controller may differentiate a degreeof controlling according to a movement distance of a drag input. Forexample, when “knockknock and drag” for adjusting a volume is sensed,the controller 180 may differently control a degree of adjusting avolume according to a movement distance of the drag input. In a specificexample, in a case in which a drag input is moved upwardly by a distance‘1’, the controller 180 may turn up the volume by stage ‘1’, and in acase in which a drag input having a distance ‘3’ greater than thedistance ‘1’ is input, the controller 180 may turn up the volume bystage ‘3’.

In this manner, the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure provides the new interface called“knockknock and drag”, as well as “knockknock”, thereby providing morefamiliar user experience (UX) to the user.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may control a different function accordingto a state in which the mobile terminal is placed. FIG. 16 is aconceptual view illustrating a method of controlling a mobile terminalin response to tapping applied to the mobile terminal in a particularsituation according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, in a state in which the terminalbody is placed in a landscape (or horizontal) direction, when“knockknock” is applied, the controller 180 may activate the camera inresponse to “knockknock” and execute an application related to thecamera. In this case, although the mobile terminal is in a locked state,the controller 180 may output a camera function screen.

In this manner, when “knockknock” is applied in the landscape direction,the application related to the camera is immediately executed, and thus,a user operation for executing an application may be reduced and userconvenience may be increased.

Meanwhile, a plurality of terminals may be activated by “knockknock” andperform communication. FIG. 17 is a conceptual view illustrating amethod of connecting a plurality of mobile terminals as they sense thesame tapping according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 17, first and second terminals 100 aand 100 b may be placed on the same object such as a table. In thiscase, in a case in which “knockknock” T tapping the desk is applied, thefirst and second terminals 100 a and 100 b may sense “knockknock” T at asimilar point in time. Namely, since distances between the position ofthe mobile terminals and the spot to which “knockknock” T is applied aredifferent, points in time at which “knockknock” T is sensed may bedifferent.

Meanwhile, in a case in which “knockknock” T applied to a spot outsideof the terminal body is sensed, each mobile terminal may activate thewireless communication unit to search for a different mobile terminalwhich has sensed the same “knockknock” T. A different terminal which hassensed the same “knockknock” T is searched, each mobile terminal mayconnect a channel for sharing data. Thus, by applying “knockknock” Ttapping the object on which the plurality of terminals are placed, syncmay be simply connected between the devices.

In a case in which a channel for sharing data is connected, thecontroller 180 may output a name of a connected terminal or a list ofcontent that may be transmitted to the display unit 151. When at leastone content is selected by the user, the selected content may betransmitted to the different terminal connected thereto.

Meanwhile, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure, the controller 180 may deactivate the displayunit in response to “knockknock”. Hereinafter a method for deactivatingthe display unit will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 18.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual view illustrating an operation example ofdeactivating a display unit in response to tapping in a mobile terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.Referring to FIG. 18, screen information such as an executed screen, astandby screen, a locked screen, and the like, corresponding to one ormore functions may be output to the display unit 151.

In the state in which the screen information is output to the displayunit 151, when “knockknock” is sensed, the controller 180 may deactivatethe display unit 151.

Besides, in a case in which one or more functions are being executedwhen “knockknock” is applied, the controller 180 may terminate at leastone of the functions. For example, when “knockknock” is applied in astate in which audio is output through the speaker, the controller 180may deactivate the speaker together with the display unit 151.

Namely, a sleep mode in which the mobile terminal is on standby, whileconsuming minimum power, or a doze mode in which the touch sensor isperiodically activated may be executed by “knockknock”.

Meanwhile, in order to prevent the sleep mode or the doze mode frombeing erroneously executed by “knockknock”, only when “knockknock” isapplied to an empty space in which an object to be executed by a touchis not positioned in the entire region, the sleep mode may be executed.For example, in a case in which “knockknock” is applied to a region inwhich an icon is not output in a state in which a home screen is outputto the display unit 151, the sleep mode may be executed. In anotherexample, in a case in which “knockknock” is applied to a region otherthan the display unit, the sleep mode may be executed.

So far, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in which“knockknock” is sensed by using the accelerometer, or the like, andfunctions of the terminal are controlled based on the characteristics of“knockknock” and a terminal state when “knockknock” is sensed have beendescribed. However, in the exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, “knockknock” is not necessarily sensed only by theaccelerometer and may be sensed by any sensor that may be easilyreplaced by a person skilled in the art to which the present inventionpertains.

For example, a tap, namely, “knockknock”, applied to the display unitmay be sensed by using the touch sensor.

Also, in such a case, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, even in a state in which thedisplay is deactivated (or OFF), the touch sensor may be activated (orturned on) to sense a tap applied to the display unit. Meanwhile, in thecase in which the display unit is deactivated (or OFF), the controller180 may control the touch sensor to be deactivated (or OFF) during apredetermined period of time and to be activated during a predeterminedperiod of time, rather than to be constantly activated (or ON). Namely,by periodically switching the touch sensor to the activated state andthe deactivated state, power consumed as the touch sensor is constantlyactivated (or ON) may be reduced.

In an example, in a state in which the touch sensor is periodicallyactivated, the terminal 100 may sense “knockknock”, a tap, applied tothe touch sensor by using the touch sensor. Namely, in a case in which afirst tap is applied and a second tap is input to a predetermined regionwithin a limited period of time, the controller 180 may determine that“knockknock” has been sensed, and control at least one of executablefunctions in the mobile terminal.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the method of sensing “knockknock” by using theaccelerometer has been described. Hereinafter, a method of sensing“knockknock” by using the touch sensor will be described. The foregoingexemplary embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 7 through18 may also be applied to the mobile terminal, namely, the mobileterminal that senses “knockknock” by using the touch sensor, in the samemanner, and descriptions of the same contents will be omitted.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart specifically illustrating a method of sensing atap applied to a terminal by using a touch sensor in the control methodillustrated in FIG. 4, and FIG. 20 is a view illustrating currentconsumption of the touch sensor in a mobile terminal according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 19, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, in a state in which the displayunit is deactivated, the touch sensor may be periodically activated instep S1910.

Here, the “state in which the display unit 151 is deactivated” may referto a state in which lighting provided to illuminate the display unit 151is in an OFF state. Namely, in the state in which the display unit 151is deactivated, no information or graphic image is displayed on thedisplay unit 151.

Conversely, a ‘state in which the display unit 151 is activated’ refersto a state in which lighting provided to illuminate the display unit isin an ON state and screen information such as an executed screen, astandby screen, a locked screen, or the like, corresponding to one ormore functions may be output to the display unit 151.

Meanwhile, the touch sensor may form an interlayered structure with thedisplay unit 151, and may be disposed to correspond to a display regionof the display unit 151. The touch sensor may sense a tap applied by atouch subject to a particular portion of the display unit 151, and maydetect even pressure at which a tap is applied, as well as a positionand an area of the tap applied by the touch subject to the touch sensor.Here, the touch subject is an object applying a touch to the touchsensor and include, for example, a finger, a touch pen, a stylus pen, apointer, and the like.

Meanwhile, the touch sensor may be formed to sense a tap by usingdifferent methods in a state in which the display unit 151 is activatedor deactivated. In this case, the different methods may be related to anactivation period of the touch sensor. In detail, the touch sensor maybe activated at different periods according to whether the display unit151 is activated. Namely, the touch sensor may sense a tap appliedthereto at different activation periods according to whether the displayunit 151 is activated.

For example, in a state in which the display unit 151 is deactivated,the touch sensor may be activated at a pre-set particular period. Inthis case, the particular period may be a period corresponding to a timegreater than 0. Also, in a state in which the display unit 151 isactivated, the touch sensor may always be operated in an activatedstate. Namely, in this case, the activation period of the touch sensormay be 0 of a period having a time close to 0.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 20, whether the touch sensor is activatedmay be distinguished by using power consumption of the touch sensor. Forexample, power consumption of the touch sensor is equal to or smallerthan a reference value previously set based on 0, the touch sensorcorresponds to a deactivated state, and when power consumption of thetouch sensor exceeds the reference value previously set based on 0, thetouch sensor may be in an activated state.

Referring to FIG. 20, in a state in which the display unit 151 isactivated (active mode), the touch sensor may maintain the activatedstate and waits for application of a tap to the display unit 151.Meanwhile, in a case in which the display unit 151 is deactivated (dosemode), the touch sensor may be activated at every pre-set particularperiod.

Meanwhile, as the particular period at which the touch sensor isactivated is shorter, a speed at which a tap applied to the display unit151 becomes faster, but power consumed by the touch sensor may beincreased. On the other hand, as the period at which the touch sensor isactivated is longer, power consumed by the touch sensor may be reducedbut a speed at which a tap is applied to the display unit 15 may beslowed.

Thus, the particular period may be set such that a sensing speed forsensing a tap applied to the display unit 151 is faster but notrecognized by the user, while efficiency of power consumption isincreased. For example, the particular period may be set such that thetouch sensor in a deactivated state is activated 20 times (1 Hz) persecond.

Meanwhile, while the display unit 151 is in an activated state, thetouch sensor may also be activated together, and in the activated state,an activation period T of the touch sensor may be 0 or may be close to0. Alternatively, in the state in which the touch sensor is activated, aperiod of the touch sensor may be shorter by several times than theparticular period set for the touch sensor to be activated thereby inthe state in which the display unit 151 is deactivated. Namely, thetouch sensor may be activated at different periods according to whetherthe display unit 151 is activated.

Referring back to FIG. 19, in a case in which a tap corresponding to apre-set method is sensed on the display unit in a deactivated state, thecontroller 180 may control at least one of functions executable in themobile terminal in step S1920.

Meanwhile, the step of sensing a tap and the step of controlling atleast one of the executable functions have been described in the stepsS410 and S420 with reference to FIG. 4, so a detailed descriptionthereof will be omitted.

However, according to the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in FIG. 20, in the dozemode in which the display unit 151 is deactivated and the touch sensoris periodically activated, when “knockknock” is sensed by the touchsensor, the controller 180 may switch the doze mode into an active modein which the display unit and the touch sensor are activated.

In this manner, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, since “knockknock” is sensed bythe touch sensor, a tap applied to the display unit 151 may beaccurately sensed. Also, in the mobile terminal according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the touch sensoris periodically activated, efficiency of power consumption may beincreased.

Hereinafter, modes in which the display unit and the touch sensor in themobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, like the doze mode and the active mode as described above,will be described in detail.

FIG. 21 is a view illustrating a mode in which the display unit and thetouch sensor operate in a mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 21, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, operation modes of the mobileterminal may be divided into an active mode 2010, a sleep mode 2030, anda doze mode 2020 according to operational states of the display unit 151and the touch sensor.

The active mode 2010 refers to a state in which both the display unit151 and the touch sensor are activated. Namely, the active mode refersto a state in which lighting of the display unit 151 is turned on, thetouch sensor is activated to receive a user input with respect to anicon or a graphic object output to the display unit 151, and power iscontinuously consumed.

On the other hand, the sleep mode 2030 may refer to a state in whichboth the display unit 151 and the touch sensor are deactivated. Lightingof the display unit 151 is turned off and any function is not executedeven through a touch is applied to the display unit 151.

The doze mode 2020 may refer to a state in which the touch sensor isperiodically activated in a state in which the display unit 151 isdeactivated. The doze mode may refer to a state for receiving“knockknock” in a state in which the display unit 151 is deactivated.

The touch sensor may sense a tap applied to the display unit 151 indifferent manners in the doze mode 2020 and the active mode 2010.Besides, settings related to an operation of the touch sensor may bedifferent in the doze mode 202 and the active mode 2010.

For example, threshold values set for recognizing a tap may bedifferently set. Namely, sensitivity of the touch sensor with respect toa touch may be greater in the active mode 2010 than in the doze mode2020. This is because, the doze mode is a mode for sensing “knockknock”,while reducing power consumption, and the active mode 2010 may be a modefor accurately sensing a user input.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may selectively switch the active mode2010 to the sleep mode 2030 or the doze mode 2020 according to settingor conditions of the terminal. Namely, the doze mode 2020 may beexecuted instead of the sleep mode 2030 or the sleep mode 2030 may beexecuted instead of the doze mode 2020. For example, in a case in whichthe touch sensor is set to recognize “knockknock”, the doze mode 2020may be executed, and in a case in which the touch sensor is set not torecognize “knockknock”, the sleep mode 2030 may be executed. Thissetting may be changed by the user.

Meanwhile, the terminal body may include a button for interchanging theactive mode 2010 and the sleep mode 2030 or the active mode 2010 and thedoze mode 2020, like a home button or a power button. When the button ispressed by the user, the controller 180 may change an operational stateof the mobile terminal.

Also, in a case in which an event such as a call or message receptionoccurs in the sleep mode 2030 or the doze mode 2020, the controller 180may execute the active mode 2010. Conversely, when a user input is notinput during a pre-set period of time in the active mode 201, thecontroller 180 may execute the sleep mode 2030 or the doze mode 2020.

Meanwhile, in order to prevent a generation of malfunction due to“knockknock”, the controller 180 may interconvert the doze mode 2030 andthe sleep mode 2020. A conversion method will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating a method of controlling the touchsensor using a proximity sensor in the method illustrated in FIG. 19.

Referring to FIG. 22, the proximity sensor of the mobile terminalaccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure maysense an object positioned within a reference distance based on thedisplay unit 151 or the vicinity of the display unit 151 in a state inwhich the display unit 151 is deactivated in step S2110.

The proximity sensor may be disposed in the vicinity of the display unit151, and may sense an object that approaches the display unit 151 or anobject positioned with a reference distance from the display unit 151.The reference distance may refer to a distance over which the user maynot properly see the display unit 151 due to an object covering thedisplay unit 151.

For example, the case in which an object is positioned within thereference distance from the display unit 151 may correspond to a case inwhich a front side of the terminal body on which the display unit 151 isdisposed faces a table, a case in which a case protecting the terminalbody covers the front surface of the display unit 151, a case in whichthe terminal is placed in a pocket of trousers or in a bag, or the like.

Next, whether to active the touch sensor may be determined according towhether an object is sensed by the proximity sensor in step S2120.

For example, in a case in which the proximity sensor senses an objectpositioned within the reference distance, the controller 180 maydeactivate the touch sensor in the state in which the display unit 151is deactivated. Namely, referring to FIG. 21, the controller 180 mayswitch the doze mode to the sleep mode.

In a case in which the object which has been sensed by the proximitysensor is not sensed any longer within the reference distance, namely,when the object which has been sensed by the proximity sensordisappears, the controller 180 may switch the sleep mode to the dozemode.

In this manner, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, a setting related to the touchsensor may be changed according to whether an object positioned within areference distance is sensed by the proximity sensor in a state in whichthe display unit 151 is deactivated. As described above, in the mobileterminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the touch sensor is deactivated or periodically activatedaccording to a state of the terminal, and thus, power consumption may bereduced.

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal may malfunction due to a tap or a touchnot intended by the user. Namely, an unintentional function may beexecuted in the doze mode. FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating a methodof preventing malfunction in a mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

In a state in which the display unit 151 is deactivated, in a case inwhich a tap continuously applied to the display unit 151 is sensed, thecontroller 180 may control at least one function. In this case, the tapcontinuously applied to the display unit 151 may include a first tap anda second tap applied within a pre-set period of time after the first tapis applied.

First, referring to FIG. 23, the first tap may be sensed in step S2310.Next, in a case in which the second tap is successively sensed after thefirst tap, whether the second tap corresponds to pre-set conditions maybe determined in step S2320.

For example, in a case in which at least two or more taps are applied toa predetermined region within the reference period of time, it may bedetermined to correspond to the pre-set conditions. Thus, in the case inwhich at least two or more (or a plurality of) taps are successivelyapplied to a predetermined region within the reference period of time,the controller 180 or the touch sensor may determine that the second tapcorresponding to the pre-set conditions has been sensed.

Meanwhile, in this case, the reference period of time may be very shorttime, and may be a period of time within 200 ms to 2 s, for example.Also, the predetermined region may be the same region to which the tapgestures have been applied, or may be a narrow region considered as thesame spot.

Meanwhile, in a case in which the second tap does not correspond to thepre-set conditions, it may be determined that the second tap correspondsto a malfunction condition, namely, a pre-set invalidity condition instep S2330. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limitedthereto and although the second tap corresponds to the pre-setconditions, it may be determined whether the second tap corresponds tothe invalidity condition.

In a case in which the second tap corresponds to the pre-set invaliditycondition, although a tap corresponding to the pre-set method is sensedduring a pre-set period of time after the second tap is sensed, thecontroller 180 may limit controlling with respect to at least onefunction in step S2340.

For example, when the sensed second tap corresponds to the invaliditycondition, controlling of the function is not performed. In a specificexample, in this case, the controller 180 may limit calculation withrespect to the touch sensor during a limited period of time from a pointin time at which the second tap is released, thus preventingmalfunction.

For example, in a case in which the second tap is a gesture which is notreleased for a predetermined period of time in a state in which thesecond tap is in contact with the display unit 151, rather than a tapgesture applied to the display unit 151, the controller 180 maydeactivate the touch sensor during the limited period of time after thesecond tap is released. Accordingly, a generation of malfunction of themobile terminal may be prevented in advance.

In another example, in a case in which a number of taps greater than areference number of time is successively applied, the controller 180 maynot perform calculation with respect to a tap input during the limitedperiod of time after the reference number of time. Namely, a differenttap is successively sensed after the tap corresponding to the referencenumber of time, it corresponds to the invalidity condition, and thus,the function is not performed.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are conceptual views illustrating an operation exampleof deactivating a particular region of the touch sensor in a state inwhich the display unit is deactivated in the mobile terminal accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 24, the entire region of the display unit 151 may bedivided into a particular region 151 a for receiving a pre-set tap in astate in which the display unit 151 is deactivated, and a remainingregion 151 b other than the particular region 151 a. For example, in acase in which the user holds the terminal, an unintentional touch may begenerated due to the user's fingers holding the terminal body.

Thus, in a case in which the display unit 151 is deactivated, thecontroller 180 may control at least one function, the controller 180 maycontrol at least one function in response to a tap applied to a pre-setparticular region of the display unit 151. Namely, in a state in whichthe display unit 151 is deactivated, at least one region of the touchsensor may be deactivated.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 25, a partial region of the entire regionof the display unit 151 may be covered by a case 2400, or the like. Inthis case, the touch sensor may distinguish the region covered by thecase 2400 and other remaining region, and active at least one region ofthe touch sensor based on the distinguished regions.

In this case, in a case in which a pre-set tap is applied to the regionin which the touch sensor is activated, the controller 180 may outputscreen information to the display unit 151 in response to the appliedtap.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may activate only the region not coveredby the case 2400 in the entire region of the display unit 151, andoutput screen information to the activated region.

As described above, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, a tap may be sensed by at leastone of the accelerometer and the touch sensor included in the sensingunit 140. Here, the accelerometer is a sensor for measuring dynamicforce such as acceleration, vibration, impact, or the like, of theterminal body.

Namely, the accelerometer may determine whether a tap is applied to anobject by sensing a movement (or vibration) of the terminal bodygenerated by a tap gesture. Thus, the accelerometer may sense a tapapplied to the terminal body or a tap applied to an object positioned asclose as the terminal body enough to sense whether a movement orvibration is generated in the terminal body.

In this manner, the accelerometer may sense a tap applied to a spotoutside of the terminal body, as well as a tap applied to the terminalbody, as long as a movement or a vibration of the terminal body issensed.

Meanwhile, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure, in order to sense a tap through theaccelerometer or the touch sensor, the mobile terminal may be operatedin a specific mode in which minimum current or power is consumed. Thespecific mode may be referred to as a doze mode. Thus, in the mobileterminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, in a state in which lighting of the display unit 151 isturned off or in the doze mode, a touch corresponding to a tap appliedto the terminal body may be sensed by the touch sensor or a tap appliedto the terminal body or an object in the vicinity of the terminal bodymay be sensed by the accelerometer.

In the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, in order to sense a tap applied to the body of themobile terminal, only any one of the accelerometer and the touch sensormay be used, the accelerometer and the touch sensor may be sequentiallyused, or both the accelerometer and the touch sensor may be usedsimultaneously. Meanwhile, a mode in which only the accelerometer isused to sense a tap may be referred to as a first mode, a mode in whichonly the touch sensor is used to sense a tap may be referred to as asecond mode, and a mode in which both the accelerometer and the touchsensor are used may be referred to as a third mode or a hybrid mode.

Meanwhile, in a case in which a tap is sensed by the touch sensor, aposition to which the tap is applied may be more accurately recognized.

As described above, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, functions of the mobile terminalmay be controlled in response to “knockknock”. Thus, a user interfaceallowing for simply controlling functions of the mobile terminal may beused.

Also, in the mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, different functions may be controlled accordingto characteristics of “knockknock” or different configurationinformation may be changed. Thus, the user may control various functionsby variously applying “knockknock”.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers referto like elements throughout. In describing the present invention, if adetailed explanation for a related known function or construction isconsidered to unnecessarily divert the gist of the present invention,such explanation has been omitted but would be understood by thoseskilled in the art. The accompanying drawings of the present inventionaim to facilitate understanding of the present invention and should notbe construed as limited to the accompanying drawings. The technical ideaof the present invention should be interpreted to embrace all suchalterations, modifications, and variations in addition to theaccompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a display; atouch sensor; and a controller configured to: activate the display andperiodically drive the touch sensor with a first period, in response toa first tap input applied on the touch sensor in state of the activateddisplay, determine a region of the display that corresponds to the firsttap input, in response to a second tap input applied on the touch sensorin state of the activated display within a predefined time period fromthe first tap input, determine if the second tap input is applied withinthe region, deactivate the display and periodically drive the touchsensor with a second period greater than the first period when thesecond tap input is applied within the region of the display thatcorresponds to the first tap input, and maintain the activation of thedisplay and periodically drive the touch sensor with the first periodwhen the second tap input is applied to a spot outside the region of thedisplay that corresponds to the first tap input.
 2. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured tocontinue to drive the touch sensor with the first period until thesecond tap input is applied within the region of the display thatcorresponds to the first tap input.
 3. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the determined region corresponds to a narrow region consideredas a same spot as the first tap input.
 4. The electronic device of claim1, wherein the periodically driving the touch sensor with the firstperiod corresponds to driving the touch sensor with a first power mode,wherein the periodically driving the touch sensor with the second periodcorresponds to driving the touch sensor with a second power mode, andwherein a power consumption of the first power mode is greater than apower consumption of the second power mode.
 5. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: display a homescreen on the activated display in which the touch screen is driven withthe first period, wherein the home screen includes a first region havingat least one icon and a second region having an empty space, detect athird tap input applied to the second region of the home screen, detecta fourth tap input applied on the second region of the home screenwithin a predefined time period from the third tap input, and inresponse to the fourth tap input being applied on the second region ofthe home screen within the predefined time period from the third tapinput, deactivate the display and periodically drive the touch sensorwith the second period greater than the first period.
 6. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the periodically driving the touch sensorwith the first period corresponds to driving the touch sensor with afirst power mode, wherein the periodically driving the touch sensor withthe second period corresponds to driving the touch sensor with a secondpower mode, and wherein a power consumption of the first power mode isgreater than a power consumption of the second power mode.
 7. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the display and the touch sensorare driven in the following drive states: a drive state A in which thetouch sensor is in an active mode and the display is activate; a drivestate B in which the touch sensor is in a doze mode and the display isdeactivated; and a drive state C in which the touch sensor is in a sleepmode and the display is deactivated.
 8. The electronic device of claim7, wherein the doze mode corresponds to the touch sensor being drivenwith the second period, and wherein the active mode corresponds to thetouch sensor being driven with the first period.
 9. The electronicdevice of claim 7, wherein the sleep mode corresponds to the touchsensor and the display being deactivated.
 10. The electronic device ofclaim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to: switch fromthe drive state A to the drive state B in response to the second tapinput being applied within the region of the activated display thatcorresponds to the first tap input within the predefined time periodfrom the first tap input, and maintain the drive state A until thesecond tap input is applied within the region of the activated displaythat corresponds to the first tap input within the predefined timeperiod from the first tap input.
 11. The electronic device of claim 1,further comprising: a proximity sensor configured to detect an objectwithin a reference distance from the proximity sensor, wherein thecontroller is further configured to: perform a first operation when thesecond tap input is applied to the spot outside the region of thedisplay that corresponds to the first tap input and the proximity sensordoes not detect the object within the reference distance, wherein thefirst operation comprises: maintaining the activated state of thedisplay; and periodically driving the touch sensor with the firstperiod, perform a second operation when the second tap input is appliedto the region of the display that corresponds to the first tap input andthe proximity sensor does not detect the object within the referencedistance, wherein the second operation comprises: switching the displayfrom the activated state to a deactivated state; and periodicallydriving the touch sensor with the second period, perform a thirdoperation when the proximity sensor detects the object within thereference distance, and wherein the third operation comprises: switchingthe display from the activated state to the deactivated state; andperiodically driving the touch sensor with a third period greater thanthe first period.
 12. The electronic device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a proximity sensor configured to detect an object within areference distance from the proximity sensor, wherein the controller isfurther configured to: perform a first operation when the second tapinput is applied to the spot outside the region of the display thatcorresponds to the first tap input and the proximity sensor does notdetect the object within the reference distance, wherein the firstoperation comprises: maintaining the activated state of the display; andperiodically driving the touch sensor with the first period, perform asecond operation when the second tap input is applied to the region ofthe display that corresponds to the first tap input and the proximitysensor does not detect the object within the reference distance, whereinthe second operation comprises: switching the display from the activatedstate to a deactivated state; and periodically driving the touch sensorwith the second period, perform a third operation when the proximitysensor detects the object within the reference distance, and wherein thethird operation comprises: switching the display from the activatedstate to the deactivated state; and controlling the touch sensor to bedeactivated.
 13. An electronic device, comprising: a display; a touchsensor; power; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs,wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configuredto be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programsincluding instructions for: activating the display and periodicallydriving the touch sensor with a first period, in response to a first tapinput applied on the touch sensor in state of the activated display,determining a region of the display that corresponds to the first tapinput, in response to a second tap input applied on the touch sensor instate of the activated display within a predefined time period from thefirst tap input, determining if the second tap input is applied withinthe region, deactivating the display and periodically drive the touchsensor with a second period greater than the first period when thesecond tap input is applied within the region of the display thatcorresponds to the first tap input, and maintaining the activation ofthe display and periodically driving the touch sensor with the firstperiod when the second tap input is applied to a spot outside the regionof the display that corresponds to the first tap input.
 14. Theelectronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs furtherinclude instructions for continuing to drive the touch sensor with thefirst period until the second tap input is applied within the region ofthe display that corresponds to the first tap input.
 15. The electronicdevice of claim 13, wherein the determined region corresponds to anarrow region considered as a same spot as the first tap input.
 16. Theelectronic device of claim 13, wherein the periodically driving thetouch sensor with the first period corresponds to driving the touchsensor with a first power mode, wherein the periodically driving thetouch sensor with the second period corresponds to driving the touchsensor with a second power mode, and wherein a power consumption of thefirst power mode is greater than a power consumption of the second powermode.
 17. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or moreprograms further include instructions for: displaying a home screen onthe activated display in which the touch screen is driven with the firstperiod, wherein the home screen includes a first region having at leastone icon and a second region having an empty space, detecting a thirdtap input applied to the second region of the home screen, detecting afourth tap input applied on the second region of the home screen withina predefined time period from the third tap input, and in response tothe fourth tap input being applied on the second region of the homescreen within the predefined time period from the third tap input,deactivating the display and periodically drive the touch sensor withthe second period greater than the first period.
 18. The electronicdevice of claim 13, wherein the periodically driving the touch sensorwith the first period corresponds to driving the touch sensor with afirst power mode, wherein the periodically driving the touch sensor withthe second period corresponds to driving the touch sensor with a secondpower mode, and wherein a power consumption of the first power mode isgreater than a power consumption of the second power mode.
 19. Theelectronic device of claim 13, wherein the display and the touch sensorare driven in the following drive states: a drive state A in which thetouch sensor is in an active mode and the display is activate; a drivestate B in which the touch sensor is in a doze mode and the display isdeactivated; and a drive state C in which the touch sensor is in a sleepmode and the display is deactivated.
 20. The electronic device of claim19, wherein the doze mode corresponds to the touch sensor being drivenwith the second period, and wherein the active mode corresponds to thetouch sensor being driven with the first period.
 21. The electronicdevice of claim 19, wherein the sleep mode corresponds to the touchsensor and the display being deactivated.
 22. The electronic device ofclaim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructionsfor: switching from the drive state A to the drive state B in responseto the second tap input being applied within the region of the activateddisplay that corresponds to the first tap input within the predefinedtime period from the first tap input, and maintaining the drive state Auntil the second tap input is applied within the region of the activateddisplay that corresponds to the first tap input within the predefinedtime period from the first tap input.
 23. The electronic device of claim13, further comprising: a proximity sensor configured to detect anobject within a reference distance from the proximity sensor, whereinthe one or more programs further include instructions for: performing afirst operation when the second tap input is applied to the spot outsidethe region of the display that corresponds to the first tap input andthe proximity sensor does not detect the object within the referencedistance, wherein the first operation comprises: maintaining theactivated state of the display; and periodically driving the touchsensor with the first period, performing a second operation when thesecond tap input is applied to the region of the display thatcorresponds to the first tap input and the proximity sensor does notdetect the object within the reference distance, wherein the secondoperation comprises: switching the display from the activated state tothe deactivated state; and periodically driving the touch sensor withthe second period, and performing a third operation when the proximitysensor detects the object within the reference distance, and wherein thethird operation comprises: switching the display from the activatedstate to the deactivated state; and periodically driving the touchsensor with a third period greater than the first period.
 24. Theelectronic device of claim 13, further comprising: a proximity sensorconfigured to detect an object within a reference distance from theproximity sensor, wherein the one or more programs further includeinstructions for: performing a first operation when the second tap inputis applied to the spot outside the region of the display thatcorresponds to the first tap input and the proximity sensor does notdetect the object within the reference distance, wherein the firstoperation comprises: maintaining the activated state of the display; andperiodically driving the touch sensor with the first period, performinga second operation when the second tap input is applied to the region ofthe display that corresponds to the first tap input and the proximitysensor does not detect the object within the reference distance, whereinthe second operation comprises: switching the display from the activatedstate to the deactivated state; and periodically driving the touchsensor with the second period, and performing a third operation when theproximity sensor detects the object within the reference distance, andwherein the third operation comprises: switching the display from theactivated state to the deactivated state; and controlling the touchsensor to be deactivated.